NHS unions and ministers have reached a new pay offer for frontline staff in a move which could herald the end of walkouts by nurses and paramedics. The government and the NHS Staff Council – which represents nurses, ambulance staff and other NHS workers – reached the final offer after weeks of negotiations and months of strikes.

UK government agrees to pay rise for NHS workers

NHS strike: Sunk is delighted with the pay deal

The United Kingdom government came up with a major crackdown on research collaborations with China as more than 1,000 scientists and postgraduate students were prohibited from working in the country last year on national security grounds, The Guardian reported on Wednesday (March 15) citing figures it obtained.&nbsp;

The media outlet reported that the figures showed that a record 1,104 scientists and postgraduate students were rejected by Foreign Office vetting in 2022. The number saw an increase, up from 128 in 2020 and just 13 in 2016.&nbsp;

Last year in July, a report emerged that 50 Chinese students have left the UK in the past three years in the aftermath of Britain tightening its procedures to prevent the theft of sensitive academic research. It was said by the head of MI5 in a speech about the espionage threat posed by Beijing.&nbsp;

The Guardian reported that the Foreign Office hasn't given a detailed report, breaking down the nationality, but according to the data released by leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College, it can be seen that Chinese academics account for a majority of those denied clearance at these institutions at least.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-comes-up-with-20-recommendations-to-encourage-families-to-have-more-children-572313">Experts in China draft 20 new incentives to encourage families for having more babies</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;US-China rivalry plays out in Africa&nbsp;

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Meanwhile, ICEF Monitor, which is a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry, reported on Wednesday that the latest UK visa numbers indicate continuing strong growth in international HE enrolments this year.&nbsp;

According to the report, the UK study visa grants reached nearly 490,000 in 2022, which is an 81% increase over pre-pandemic levels. The report further mentioned that China and Nigeria were among other markets, which acted as the main growth drivers.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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The United Kingdom government came up with a major crackdown on research collaborations with China as more than 1,000 scientists and postgraduate students were prohibited from working in the country last year on national security grounds, The Guardian reported on Wednesday (March 15) citing figures it obtained.

The United Kingdom government came up with a major crackdown on research collaborations with China as more than 1,000 scientists and postgraduate students were prohibited from working in the country last year on national security grounds, The Guardian reported on Wednesday (March 15) citing figures it obtained. The media outlet reported that the figures showed that a record 1,104 scientists and postgraduate students were rejected by Foreign Office vetting in 2022. The number saw an increase, up from 128 in 2020 and just 13 in 2016. Last year in July, a report emerged that 50 Chinese students have left the UK in the past three years in the aftermath of Britain tightening its procedures to prevent the theft of sensitive academic research. It was said by the head of MI5 in a speech about the espionage threat posed by Beijing. The Guardian reported that the Foreign Office hasn't given a detailed report, breaking down the nationality, but according to the data released by leading universities including Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College, it can be seen that Chinese academics account for a majority of those denied clearance at these institutions at least. ALSO READ | Experts in China draft 20 new incentives to encourage families for having more babies WATCH | US-China rivalry plays out in Africa × Meanwhile, ICEF Monitor, which is a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry, reported on Wednesday that the latest UK visa numbers indicate continuing strong growth in international HE enrolments this year. According to the report, the UK study visa grants reached nearly 490,000 in 2022, which is an 81% increase over pre-pandemic levels. The report further mentioned that China and Nigeria were among other markets, which acted as the main growth drivers. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hundreds of scientists and students barred from UK amid government’s crackdown on China

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led UK government is likely to block Scotland’s gender reform law, which will make the process of changing gender easier for people. The move comes after Scottish lawmakers on Thursday passed a contentious law which made it both easier&nbsp; and faster for its citizens to change their genders, despite facing protest from within the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and "concerns" by the UK government.&nbsp;

However, the passing of legislation leads to a clash with the UK government, which has raised concerns over children's and women’s safety. Scottish government’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that they will fight all the attempts made to stop the law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ALSO READ| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-supreme-court-blocks-scotland-from-holding-second-independence-referendum-536746">UK Supreme Court blocks Scotland from holding second independence referendum</a>

The legislation, which received 86 votes in favour and 39 in opposition in the devolved parliament of Scotland in Edinburgh, removed the need for a gender dysphoria medical diagnosis if a person wants to change his/her gender.

"The motion is therefore agreed and the Gender Recognition Reform Scotland Bill is passed," said presiding officer Alison Johnstone, responding to the public gallery's loud applause. To prevent the legislation from becoming law, the UK government can block the Royal Assent, when the King gives his formal agreement to the Bill and it takes the shape of an Act of the Scottish Parliament.

UK Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch said that the bill’s implications on the lives of girls and women have not been considered by the Scottish government. She said in a statement: "The UK government is now looking at provisions that can prompt reconsideration and allow MSPs to address these issues."

WATCH| Scottish Independence Referendum: 'People of Scotland have the right to choose'

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As per the legislation, people between the age of 16 and 17 will now be permitted to change their gender. The law has further reduced the required time an applicant needs to live in their new gender before its official recognition from two years to three months and in the case of 16 and 17-year-old citizens, the time required is six months.

The applicant will also be provided an additional time of three months as a reflection period during which the applicant who has initiated the process or considering changing the gender can change their decision. However, the Scottish government argues that the Equality Act will not be impacted by the legislation, which permits transgenders to be excluded from single-sex spaces like changing rooms.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has battled the biggest internal opposition over the legislation in her tenure of eight years, said that the older system for altering gender was "intrusive, traumatic and dehumanising".&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led UK government is likely to block Scotland’s gender reform law, which will make the process of changing gender easier for people. The move comes after Scottish lawmakers on Thursday passed a contentious law which made it both easier and faster for its citizens to change their genders, despite facing protest from within the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and "concerns" by the UK government.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak-led UK government is likely to block Scotland’s gender reform law, which will make the process of changing gender easier for people. The move comes after Scottish lawmakers on Thursday passed a contentious law which made it both easier and faster for its citizens to change their genders, despite facing protest from within the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) and "concerns" by the UK government. However, the passing of legislation leads to a clash with the UK government, which has raised concerns over children's and women’s safety. Scottish government’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that they will fight all the attempts made to stop the law. ALSO READ| UK Supreme Court blocks Scotland from holding second independence referendum The legislation, which received 86 votes in favour and 39 in opposition in the devolved parliament of Scotland in Edinburgh, removed the need for a gender dysphoria medical diagnosis if a person wants to change his/her gender. "The motion is therefore agreed and the Gender Recognition Reform Scotland Bill is passed," said presiding officer Alison Johnstone, responding to the public gallery's loud applause. To prevent the legislation from becoming law, the UK government can block the Royal Assent, when the King gives his formal agreement to the Bill and it takes the shape of an Act of the Scottish Parliament. UK Minister for Women and Equalities Kemi Badenoch said that the bill’s implications on the lives of girls and women have not been considered by the Scottish government. She said in a statement: "The UK government is now looking at provisions that can prompt reconsideration and allow MSPs to address these issues." WATCH| Scottish Independence Referendum: 'People of Scotland have the right to choose' As per the legislation, people between the age of 16 and 17 will now be permitted to change their gender. The law has further reduced the required time an applicant needs to live in their new gender before its official recognition from two years to three months and in the case of 16 and 17-year-old citizens, the time required is six months. The applicant will also be provided an additional time of three months as a reflection period during which the applicant who has initiated the process or considering changing the gender can change their decision. However, the Scottish government argues that the Equality Act will not be impacted by the legislation, which permits transgenders to be excluded from single-sex spaces like changing rooms. Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has battled the biggest internal opposition over the legislation in her tenure of eight years, said that the older system for altering gender was "intrusive, traumatic and dehumanising". (With inputs from agencies)

Rishi Sunak-led UK government likely to block Scotland’s gender reform legislation

This coming winter will be difficult for Europe amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but for the United Kingdom, it might be worse as the country faces several crises.&nbsp;

As the nation looks for political stability, economic status continues to be a concerning issue for the policymakers because reports state that amid a cost-of-living crisis, Brits could be plunged into darkness this winter with the coldest months yet to come.&nbsp;

But how is the government planning to address the issue? As seen by the British media outlet The Guardian, official documents show that the authorities have "war gamed" emergency plans to cope with energy blackouts lasting up to seven days.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gchq-mi5and-mi6-alter-hiring-rules-will-recruit-non-british-parentage-spies-530470">UK PM Rishi Sunak is looking to close the Confucius Institutes, says security minister</a>&nbsp;

This comes amid growing fears over the security of supply this winter during a potential national power outage. The report mentioned that the documents were marked "official sensitive" and they warned that in a "reasonable worst-case scenario" all major sectors such as; transport, food and water supply, communications and energy, could be "severely disrupted" for up to a week.&nbsp;

The document also underlined that in case of such a scenario, the government will give priority to food, water and shelter to young and elderly people.&nbsp;

Guardian report mentioned that the country might experience a blackout for a week. Meanwhile, a BBC report also said the same thing as it reported quoting National Grid that the blackouts would be the last resort this winter if energy supplies stop or run low.&nbsp;

WATCH |&nbsp;UK PM Rishi Sunak makes U-turn on attending COP27, confirms his attendance&nbsp;

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UK National Grid's boss, John Pettigrew, told BBC that it assumed that the UK would have enough supplies to meet heating and lighting demand this winter, but short rolling power cuts were a possibility.&nbsp;

Pettigrew told BBC: "There could be energy shortfalls in the UK and we will manage that very carefully. This isn't a time for people to panic."&nbsp;

"Most importantly what we're doing is making sure that the infrastructure that we have and the networks are robust and ready for the winter, and I've got thousands of engineers making sure that the network is ready for whatever weather we see over the winter," he added.&nbsp;

The report mentioned that the UK government is currently stress-testing Programme Yarrow, which is a confidential plan to address power outages that will impact millions of households.&nbsp;

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This coming winter will be difficult for Europe amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but for the United Kingdom, it might be worse as the country faces several crises.

This coming winter will be difficult for Europe amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, but for the United Kingdom, it might be worse as the country faces several crises. As the nation looks for political stability, economic status continues to be a concerning issue for the policymakers because reports state that amid a cost-of-living crisis, Brits could be plunged into darkness this winter with the coldest months yet to come. But how is the government planning to address the issue? As seen by the British media outlet The Guardian, official documents show that the authorities have "war gamed" emergency plans to cope with energy blackouts lasting up to seven days. ALSO READ | UK PM Rishi Sunak is looking to close the Confucius Institutes, says security minister This comes amid growing fears over the security of supply this winter during a potential national power outage. The report mentioned that the documents were marked "official sensitive" and they warned that in a "reasonable worst-case scenario" all major sectors such as; transport, food and water supply, communications and energy, could be "severely disrupted" for up to a week. The document also underlined that in case of such a scenario, the government will give priority to food, water and shelter to young and elderly people. Guardian report mentioned that the country might experience a blackout for a week. Meanwhile, a BBC report also said the same thing as it reported quoting National Grid that the blackouts would be the last resort this winter if energy supplies stop or run low. WATCH | UK PM Rishi Sunak makes U-turn on attending COP27, confirms his attendance × ALSO READ | GCHQ, MI5and MI6 alter hiring rules. Will recruit non-British parentage spies UK National Grid's boss, John Pettigrew, told BBC that it assumed that the UK would have enough supplies to meet heating and lighting demand this winter, but short rolling power cuts were a possibility. Pettigrew told BBC: "There could be energy shortfalls in the UK and we will manage that very carefully. This isn't a time for people to panic." "Most importantly what we're doing is making sure that the infrastructure that we have and the networks are robust and ready for the winter, and I've got thousands of engineers making sure that the network is ready for whatever weather we see over the winter," he added. The report mentioned that the UK government is currently stress-testing Programme Yarrow, which is a confidential plan to address power outages that will impact millions of households. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Is the UK government working on 'war gamed' emergency plans to tackle energy blackouts?

India's Tata Steel sought financial support from the British government upon its operations. The firm is hopeful of receiving $1.5 bn in terms of subsidy package for proposed transition of furnaces to green energy.

India's Tata Steel seeks support from UK government

The British pound showed signs of recovery on Thursday after reports claiming that the Liz Truss-led government can completely abandon their plans to introduce unfunded tax cuts. The pound jumped against the United States Dollar by 1.5 per cent to reach $1.1269 during afternoon deals in London.

The mini budget presented by finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng was not accepted kindly by the public as the pound previously dropped to its lowest against the dollar. The tax cuts were a key element of Truss’ campaign promises but the implementation earned criticisms from all corners.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-russia-war-live-updates-russian-missiles-target-more-than-40-ukraine-cities-and-towns-525102" hreflang="en">Ukraine-Russia war LIVE | Putin tells Erdogan about 'gas hub' in Türkiye</a>

A number of international organisations – including the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England – expressed their concerns regarding the tax cuts. In the aftermath of the fall in pound’s value, the Bank of England had to expand their buying of government bonds to stablise the market.

However, Truss and Kwarteng have both decided to not implement all the measures mentioned in the budget and that has come as good news for the market. The pound has somewhat stabilised with the tax cuts not taking place and it was further boosted by the US inflation data.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that Truss can be facing some rebellion from inside the Conservative Party. Paul Goodman, former Tory MP and editor of the influential ConservativeHome blog, said that party members can be looking at former finance minister Rishi Sunak as a possible alternative.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pak-pm-shehbaz-sharif-says-want-talks-with-india-but-remains-silent-on-terrorism-525119">Pak PM Sharif says 'want talks with India', but remains silent on terrorism</a>

"All sorts of different people are talking about all sorts of different things because the Conservative backbenchers are casting around for a possible replacement for (finance minister) Kwasi Kwarteng, even for a possible replacement for Liz Truss," he told BBC in an interview.

"One idea doing the rounds is that Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak, who, after all, between them got pretty much two-thirds of the votes of MPs (in the leadership contest), come to some kind of arrangement and essentially take over," he added when asked about possible options.

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The British pound showed signs of recovery on Thursday after reports claiming that the Liz Truss-led government can completely abandon their plans to introduce unfunded tax cuts.

The British pound showed signs of recovery on Thursday after reports claiming that the Liz Truss-led government can completely abandon their plans to introduce unfunded tax cuts. The pound jumped against the United States Dollar by 1.5 per cent to reach $1.1269 during afternoon deals in London. The mini budget presented by finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng was not accepted kindly by the public as the pound previously dropped to its lowest against the dollar. The tax cuts were a key element of Truss’ campaign promises but the implementation earned criticisms from all corners. Also read | Ukraine-Russia war LIVE | Putin tells Erdogan about 'gas hub' in Türkiye A number of international organisations – including the International Monetary Fund and the Bank of England – expressed their concerns regarding the tax cuts. In the aftermath of the fall in pound’s value, the Bank of England had to expand their buying of government bonds to stablise the market. However, Truss and Kwarteng have both decided to not implement all the measures mentioned in the budget and that has come as good news for the market. The pound has somewhat stabilised with the tax cuts not taking place and it was further boosted by the US inflation data. Meanwhile, reports suggest that Truss can be facing some rebellion from inside the Conservative Party. Paul Goodman, former Tory MP and editor of the influential ConservativeHome blog, said that party members can be looking at former finance minister Rishi Sunak as a possible alternative. Also read | Pak PM Sharif says 'want talks with India', but remains silent on terrorism "All sorts of different people are talking about all sorts of different things because the Conservative backbenchers are casting around for a possible replacement for (finance minister) Kwasi Kwarteng, even for a possible replacement for Liz Truss," he told BBC in an interview. "One idea doing the rounds is that Penny Mordaunt and Rishi Sunak, who, after all, between them got pretty much two-thirds of the votes of MPs (in the leadership contest), come to some kind of arrangement and essentially take over," he added when asked about possible options.

British pound rises after reports of UK government reversing tax cuts

Ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday that they have decided to lower the outlook for the British government’s credit rating from “stable” to “negative”. This announcement came just days after rival company Standard &amp; Poor's took a similar decision following the latest economic measures.

"The large and unfunded fiscal package announced as part of the new government's growth plan could lead to a significant increase in fiscal deficits over the medium term," Fitch said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-two-ballistic-missiles-toward-sea-in-direction-of-japan-522855" hreflang="en">North Korea fires two ballistic missiles toward sea in direction of Japan</a>

According to Fitch, the British economy faces a major concern as the measures promised by the British government do not match the ones being implemented by the Bank of England. While the BoE is looking to raise interest rates, Downing Street has promised a number of tax cuts.

In the past week, finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced tax cuts for the top earners in the United Kingdom but after severe criticism from various corners, it was not implemented. In the meantime, the sterling fell massively and at one point, the pound reaches its lowest against the US dollar.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fbi-search-has-given-mar-a-lago-about-5b-worth-of-free-publicity-says-donald-trump-522853">FBI search has given Mar-a-Lago ‘about $5bn worth of free publicity’ - Trump</a>

"Although the government reversed the elimination of the 45p top rate tax ... the government's weakened political capital could further undermine the credibility of and support for the government's fiscal strategy," Fitch said in their latest report according to Reuters.

Tax cuts were a major feature of newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss’s campaign and Kwarteng has said that although it was not implemented right now, tax cuts are a possibility in the future.

Fitch forecasted that the government deficit can reach “7.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year and 8.8% in 2023” while the government debt can skyrocket to 109 per cent of the GDP.

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Ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday that they have decided to lower the outlook for the British government’s credit rating from “stable” to “negative”. This announcement came just days after rival company Standard & Poor's took a similar decision following the latest economic measures.

Ratings agency Fitch said on Thursday that they have decided to lower the outlook for the British government’s credit rating from “stable” to “negative”. This announcement came just days after rival company Standard & Poor's took a similar decision following the latest economic measures. "The large and unfunded fiscal package announced as part of the new government's growth plan could lead to a significant increase in fiscal deficits over the medium term," Fitch said. Also read | North Korea fires two ballistic missiles toward sea in direction of Japan According to Fitch, the British economy faces a major concern as the measures promised by the British government do not match the ones being implemented by the Bank of England. While the BoE is looking to raise interest rates, Downing Street has promised a number of tax cuts. In the past week, finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced tax cuts for the top earners in the United Kingdom but after severe criticism from various corners, it was not implemented. In the meantime, the sterling fell massively and at one point, the pound reaches its lowest against the US dollar. Also read | FBI search has given Mar-a-Lago ‘about $5bn worth of free publicity’ - Trump "Although the government reversed the elimination of the 45p top rate tax ... the government's weakened political capital could further undermine the credibility of and support for the government's fiscal strategy," Fitch said in their latest report according to Reuters. Tax cuts were a major feature of newly elected Prime Minister Liz Truss’s campaign and Kwarteng has said that although it was not implemented right now, tax cuts are a possibility in the future. Fitch forecasted that the government deficit can reach “7.8% of gross domestic product (GDP) this year and 8.8% in 2023” while the government debt can skyrocket to 109 per cent of the GDP.

Fitch cuts outlook for UK credit rating to 'negative' from 'stable'

After opposition parties and environmentalists slammed the measures as insufficient and costly for consumers, Britain's environment minister on Saturday defended government plans to tackle sewage releases into rivers and sea.

Prompting widespread horror among the public, recent discharges of sewage into popular river and sea bathing areas have caused activists to raise an alarm over waters shared with the European Union.

Several members of parliament have complained to the European Commission about British sewage allegedly being poured into the bloc's water bodies.

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Requiring them to invest £56 billion ($66 billion) over 25 years to improve infrastructure such as storm overflows, the UK government on Friday announced the "toughest targets ever" for water companies.

Britons have expressed frustration over the plan as some of that cost will be passed onto customers through bills.

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We're announcing the largest infrastructure programme in water company history to crack down on sewage spills and end pollution. 
 
Read more about our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan: <a href="https://t.co/SaCTkksRGu">https://t.co/SaCTkksRGu</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EnvironmentAct?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EnvironmentAct</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sewage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sewage</a> <a href="https://t.co/4nBxtUGoOm">pic.twitter.com/4nBxtUGoOm</a>
— Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/DefraGovUK/status/1563139910525407232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While untreated wastewater goes directly into watercourses or the sea, storm channels are conduits used during heavy rain to prevent sewers from becoming overfull.

Criticising the plan, 'The Rivers Trust' charity said it was "too little, too late" and environment spokesman for the Liberal Democratic Party Tim Farron called it a "cruel joke".

''You could argue that governments down the decades should have prioritised this,'' said environment secretary George Eustice.

(With inputs from agencies)

Watch WION's live TV here:

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&nbsp;

After opposition parties and environmentalists slammed the measures as insufficient and costly for consumers, Britain's environment minister on Saturday defended government plans to tackle sewage releases into rivers and sea.

After opposition parties and environmentalists slammed the measures as insufficient and costly for consumers, Britain's environment minister on Saturday defended government plans to tackle sewage releases into rivers and sea. Prompting widespread horror among the public, recent discharges of sewage into popular river and sea bathing areas have caused activists to raise an alarm over waters shared with the European Union. Several members of parliament have complained to the European Commission about British sewage allegedly being poured into the bloc's water bodies. × Requiring them to invest £56 billion ($66 billion) over 25 years to improve infrastructure such as storm overflows, the UK government on Friday announced the "toughest targets ever" for water companies. Britons have expressed frustration over the plan as some of that cost will be passed onto customers through bills. We're announcing the largest infrastructure programme in water company history to crack down on sewage spills and end pollution. Read more about our Storm Overflows Discharge Reduction Plan: https://t.co/SaCTkksRGu#EnvironmentAct #Sewage pic.twitter.com/4nBxtUGoOm — Defra UK (@DefraGovUK) August 26, 2022 × While untreated wastewater goes directly into watercourses or the sea, storm channels are conduits used during heavy rain to prevent sewers from becoming overfull. Criticising the plan, 'The Rivers Trust' charity said it was "too little, too late" and environment spokesman for the Liberal Democratic Party Tim Farron called it a "cruel joke". ''You could argue that governments down the decades should have prioritised this,'' said environment secretary George Eustice. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Environmentalists slam British government for releasing sewage into rivers, sea

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public. Both Brexit and the pandemic have given these capitalist opportunists a perfect situation to push for the loosening of legislation controlling the quality and safety of our food, both locally grown and imported from abroad. Westminster is hell-bent on removing environmental and health safeguards that environmentalists fought for in this country for decades.

So, what is happening now at Westminster?

The Tory government in London has introduced a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill which would set different rules from the EU following Brexit and has asked all devolved nations, including Scotland, to allow gene-edited crops to be grown. The Scottish government's environment secretary, MSP Mairi McAllan, dismissed the idea, saying that Scotland will set its own food standards under devolution and will not accept any constraints placed on its food policies.

What is gene-editing?

Gene editing basically allows scientists to change a plant or animal's DNA. Many experts would consider it one step before GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), which are currently banned in Europe and the UK as a whole. Since Brexit, the UK government has been hell bent on eroding all our food and environmental safety laws that we as a country have fought so hard to achieve over the past many decades. I have previously in my columns highlighted the need for citizens to be vigilant against corporations, lobbyists, and greedy politicians who are now convinced that the only way to grow and feed the population in the UK post-Brexit is via gene-edited or GMO foods!

Under the UK's internal market legislation, introduced by the Tory government at Westminster, anything approved for sale in one part of the UK must be available across the whole of the UK. This legislation basically undermines "devolution" in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We are already seeing the chaos caused by the "Northern Ireland Protocol Bill" and its hasty signing off as an election promise in their manifesto by the Tories in the 2019 general elections. MSP Mairi McAllan has written to her Westminster counterpart saying: "If the UK government is determined to press ahead with this legislation, it must take steps to ensure that its revisions to the definition of a GMO (genetically modified organism) do not force products on Scotland which do not meet standards here without the consent of the Scottish Parliament." simultaneously raising concerns about the impact of the bill on Scotland’s food exports to the European Union, which currently still has a ban in place for GMO’s.

So, what can we do in Scotland to stop this mad onslaught on our food and its impact on Scottish soil and water in the coming decades if this bill is passed?&nbsp; Once again, be informed about the technology that is being promoted, ask questions to your elected MSP/MP and try to understand the link between corporations like Monsanto, politicians and large-scale food producers. The citizens always pay the price when things go wrong. Let’s make sure this does not happen to Scotland’s land, water, air, and health of its population.

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public.

Corporations and scientists in the pockets of big pharma are always on the lookout for a perfect opportunity to peddle their creations to an unsuspecting public. Both Brexit and the pandemic have given these capitalist opportunists a perfect situation to push for the loosening of legislation controlling the quality and safety of our food, both locally grown and imported from abroad. Westminster is hell-bent on removing environmental and health safeguards that environmentalists fought for in this country for decades. So, what is happening now at Westminster? The Tory government in London has introduced a Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill which would set different rules from the EU following Brexit and has asked all devolved nations, including Scotland, to allow gene-edited crops to be grown. The Scottish government's environment secretary, MSP Mairi McAllan, dismissed the idea, saying that Scotland will set its own food standards under devolution and will not accept any constraints placed on its food policies. What is gene-editing? Gene editing basically allows scientists to change a plant or animal's DNA. Many experts would consider it one step before GMO’s (Genetically Modified Organisms), which are currently banned in Europe and the UK as a whole. Since Brexit, the UK government has been hell bent on eroding all our food and environmental safety laws that we as a country have fought so hard to achieve over the past many decades. I have previously in my columns highlighted the need for citizens to be vigilant against corporations, lobbyists, and greedy politicians who are now convinced that the only way to grow and feed the population in the UK post-Brexit is via gene-edited or GMO foods! Under the UK's internal market legislation, introduced by the Tory government at Westminster, anything approved for sale in one part of the UK must be available across the whole of the UK. This legislation basically undermines "devolution" in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. We are already seeing the chaos caused by the "Northern Ireland Protocol Bill" and its hasty signing off as an election promise in their manifesto by the Tories in the 2019 general elections. MSP Mairi McAllan has written to her Westminster counterpart saying: "If the UK government is determined to press ahead with this legislation, it must take steps to ensure that its revisions to the definition of a GMO (genetically modified organism) do not force products on Scotland which do not meet standards here without the consent of the Scottish Parliament." simultaneously raising concerns about the impact of the bill on Scotland’s food exports to the European Union, which currently still has a ban in place for GMO’s. So, what can we do in Scotland to stop this mad onslaught on our food and its impact on Scottish soil and water in the coming decades if this bill is passed? Once again, be informed about the technology that is being promoted, ask questions to your elected MSP/MP and try to understand the link between corporations like Monsanto, politicians and large-scale food producers. The citizens always pay the price when things go wrong. Let’s make sure this does not happen to Scotland’s land, water, air, and health of its population.

UK government pushing for GMO's via gene-editing technology

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is holding talks with the British government on the participation of players from Russia and Belarus at this year's Wimbledon, saying on Tuesday that it hopes to announce a decision in mid-May.

Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to compete on the regular ATP and WTA Tours but not under the name or flag of their countries following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

Belarus was a key staging area for the invasion, which Russia says is a "special military operation."

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/korea-open-malvika-bansod-beats-chinas-hue-yan-in-a-thriller-to-enter-second-round-468569">Korea Open: Malvika Bansod emerges on top of China's Hue Yan in a thriller to enter second round</a>

Russia was also banned from defending its Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup team titles.

"We have noted the UK Government's guidance regarding the attendance of Russian and Belarusian individuals in a neutral capacity at sporting events in the UK," the AELTC, organisers of the grasscourt Grand Slam, said in a statement.

"This remains a complex and challenging issue, and we are continuing to engage in discussion with the UK Government, the Lawn Tennis Association, and the international governing bodies of tennis.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/korea-open-indias-lakshya-sen-sweats-it-out-versus-choi-ji-hoon-to-earn-hard-fought-win-468547">Korea Open: India's Lakshya Sen sweats it out versus Choi Ji Hoon to earn hard-fought win</a>

"We plan to announce a decision in relation to Wimbledon ahead of our entry deadline in mid-May."

British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston had said last month that he would not be comfortable with a "Russian athlete flying the Russian flag" and winning Wimbledon in London.

He added that U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev may have to provide assurances that he does not support Russian president Vladimir Putin if he is to compete.

Wimbledon will be held from June 27-July 10.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is holding talks with the British government on the participation of players from Russia and Belarus at this year's Wimbledon, saying on Tuesday that it hopes to announce a decision in mid-May.

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is holding talks with the British government on the participation of players from Russia and Belarus at this year's Wimbledon, saying on Tuesday that it hopes to announce a decision in mid-May. Russian and Belarusian players have been allowed to compete on the regular ATP and WTA Tours but not under the name or flag of their countries following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Belarus was a key staging area for the invasion, which Russia says is a "special military operation." ALSO READ: Korea Open: Malvika Bansod emerges on top of China's Hue Yan in a thriller to enter second round Russia was also banned from defending its Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup team titles. "We have noted the UK Government's guidance regarding the attendance of Russian and Belarusian individuals in a neutral capacity at sporting events in the UK," the AELTC, organisers of the grasscourt Grand Slam, said in a statement. "This remains a complex and challenging issue, and we are continuing to engage in discussion with the UK Government, the Lawn Tennis Association, and the international governing bodies of tennis. ALSO READ: Korea Open: India's Lakshya Sen sweats it out versus Choi Ji Hoon to earn hard-fought win "We plan to announce a decision in relation to Wimbledon ahead of our entry deadline in mid-May." British Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston had said last month that he would not be comfortable with a "Russian athlete flying the Russian flag" and winning Wimbledon in London. He added that U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev may have to provide assurances that he does not support Russian president Vladimir Putin if he is to compete. Wimbledon will be held from June 27-July 10.

Wimbledon organisers holding talks with British government on participation of players from Russia, Belarus

Roman Abramovich, one of the world's richest men who owns the Chelsea Football Club in the UK, was on Thursday added to the UK government's sanctions list against Russian oligarchs with known links with President Vladimir Putin.

The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said Abramovich, worth more than 9 billion pounds (USD 11 billion), is on a new list of seven wealthy Russians whose business empires, wealth and connections are closely associated with the Kremlin.

These oligarchs, with a collective net worth of around 15 billion pounds (USD 19 billion), will have their assets in the UK frozen, be banned from travelling to Britain and no UK citizen or company would be allowed to do business with them.

"There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin's vicious assault on Ukraine,"&nbsp;said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ligue-1-kylian-mbappe-neymar-on-fire-as-paris-st-germain-thrash-clermont-6-1-469965">Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar bag hat-tricks as Paris St-Germain thrash Clermont 6-1</a>

"Today's sanctions are the latest step in the UK's unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies," he said.

Given the significant impact that sanctions on Abramovich would have on the Chelsea Football Club and potential knock on effects, the UK government has also published a licence which authorises a number of football-related activities to continue at Chelsea.

This includes permissions for the club to continue playing matches and other football related activity which will in turn protect the Premier League, the wider football pyramid, fans and other clubs.

"This licence will only allow certain explicitly named actions to ensure the designated individual is not able to circumvent UK sanctions. The licence will be kept under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities,"&nbsp;the FCDO said.

Others newly-sanctioned by the UK include leading industrialist Oleg Deripaska worth 2 billion pounds (USD 2.6 billion), and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin.

A further group of Russia-based oligarchs close to Putin have also been placed under sanction&nbsp;including Andrey Kostin, Chairman of VTB bank; Alexei Miller, CEO of energy company Gazprom; Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft; and Dmitri Lebedev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Rossiya.

"Today's sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression,"&nbsp;said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss.

"The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame. Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine," she said.

The sanctions are described as the latest step in the UK's response to Putin's illegal and "unprovoked invasion", designed to ensure he fails in Ukraine by crippling Russia's economy supporting his war machine.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/serie-a-dusan-vlahovic-strikes-as-juventus-earn-crucial-win-against-cagliari-469953">Serie A: Dusan Vlahovic strikes as Juventus earn crucial win against Cagliari</a>

The FCDO said the UK has been at the forefront of this effort, shutting out large proportions of whole sectors of the Russian economy, such as its defence industry, its financial institutions and its transport sector.

The UK has previously sanctioned more than 200 of Russia's most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries since the conflict began, with over 500 of them now covered by the UK's sanctions list.

Britain's fast-tracked Economic Crime Bill, which comes into force next week, is designed to significantly simplify the process of imposing sanctions, allow the UK to more easily sanction individuals, stop oligarchs threatening the UK with multi-million pound lawsuits for damages at the taxpayer's expense and also allow the UK to mirror allies' designations.

"The UK will keep going further, faster and deeper to punish Putin's regime for this callous war,"&nbsp;the FCDO said, adding that it will continue to lead global efforts to provide Ukraine with economic, diplomatic, humanitarian and defensive support.

Roman Abramovich, one of the world's richest men who owns the Chelsea Football Club in the UK, was on Thursday added to the UK government's sanctions list against Russian oligarchs with known links with President Vladimir Putin.

Roman Abramovich, one of the world's richest men who owns the Chelsea Football Club in the UK, was on Thursday added to the UK government's sanctions list against Russian oligarchs with known links with President Vladimir Putin. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said Abramovich, worth more than 9 billion pounds (USD 11 billion), is on a new list of seven wealthy Russians whose business empires, wealth and connections are closely associated with the Kremlin. These oligarchs, with a collective net worth of around 15 billion pounds (USD 19 billion), will have their assets in the UK frozen, be banned from travelling to Britain and no UK citizen or company would be allowed to do business with them. "There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin's vicious assault on Ukraine," said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. ALSO READ: Ligue 1: Kylian Mbappe, Neymar bag hat-tricks as Paris St-Germain thrash Clermont 6-1 "Today's sanctions are the latest step in the UK's unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies," he said. Given the significant impact that sanctions on Abramovich would have on the Chelsea Football Club and potential knock on effects, the UK government has also published a licence which authorises a number of football-related activities to continue at Chelsea. This includes permissions for the club to continue playing matches and other football related activity which will in turn protect the Premier League, the wider football pyramid, fans and other clubs. "This licence will only allow certain explicitly named actions to ensure the designated individual is not able to circumvent UK sanctions. The licence will be kept under constant review and we will work closely with the football authorities," the FCDO said. Others newly-sanctioned by the UK include leading industrialist Oleg Deripaska worth 2 billion pounds (USD 2.6 billion), and Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin. A further group of Russia-based oligarchs close to Putin have also been placed under sanction including Andrey Kostin, Chairman of VTB bank; Alexei Miller, CEO of energy company Gazprom; Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft; and Dmitri Lebedev, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Rossiya. "Today's sanctions show once again that oligarchs and kleptocrats have no place in our economy or society. With their close links to Putin they are complicit in his aggression," said UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss. "The blood of the Ukrainian people is on their hands. They should hang their heads in shame. Our support for Ukraine will not waver. We will not stop in this mission to ramp up the pressure on the Putin regime and choke off funds to his brutal war machine," she said. The sanctions are described as the latest step in the UK's response to Putin's illegal and "unprovoked invasion", designed to ensure he fails in Ukraine by crippling Russia's economy supporting his war machine. ALSO READ: Serie A: Dusan Vlahovic strikes as Juventus earn crucial win against Cagliari The FCDO said the UK has been at the forefront of this effort, shutting out large proportions of whole sectors of the Russian economy, such as its defence industry, its financial institutions and its transport sector. The UK has previously sanctioned more than 200 of Russia's most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries since the conflict began, with over 500 of them now covered by the UK's sanctions list. Britain's fast-tracked Economic Crime Bill, which comes into force next week, is designed to significantly simplify the process of imposing sanctions, allow the UK to more easily sanction individuals, stop oligarchs threatening the UK with multi-million pound lawsuits for damages at the taxpayer's expense and also allow the UK to mirror allies' designations. "The UK will keep going further, faster and deeper to punish Putin's regime for this callous war," the FCDO said, adding that it will continue to lead global efforts to provide Ukraine with economic, diplomatic, humanitarian and defensive support.

UK govt adds Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich in sanctions list against Russian oligarchs for Putin link

UK government may hand over the seized properties of Russian elites to Ukrainian refugees. &nbsp;

Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has made the suggestion recently while defending the UK’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. &nbsp;

On being asked whether Britain can seize properties owned by Russian oligarchs, Raab told LBC: “If we’ve got the evidence and the legal basis, then we’ll do it.” &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/weekend-special-who-is-a-russian-oligarch-heres-what-you-need-to-know-459198" hreflang="en">Weekend Special: Who is a Russian oligarch? Here's what you need to know</a>

When enquired about using these properties to house Ukrainian refugees, Raab replied: “Yes, absolutely. &nbsp;

The move has been called by the Liberal Democrats and argued for in the government reportedly by the housing secretary Michael Gove. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“We are looking at everything in the round, it is a team effort across government, from the foreign and defence secretary through to Michael Gove and, of course, the prime minister is driving this very hard,” Raab said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-intensifies-crackdown-on-fake-reports-blocks-twitter-facebook-459123">Russia intensifies crackdown on 'fake' reports, blocks Twitter, Facebook &nbsp;</a>

The individuals, who had faced sanctions, would not be allowed to repair their property without a licence, or rent or sell it, as per sources. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Raab said, “There has been a running commentary that the UK has somehow been slow – we’ve not been slow. We’ve been at the vanguard of taking action and, of course, what is really important is we act in concert with our allies, European, American and other NATO&nbsp;allies.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

UK government may hand over the seized properties of Russian elites to Ukrainian refugees. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has made the suggestion recently while defending the UK’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine.

UK government may hand over the seized properties of Russian elites to Ukrainian refugees. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab has made the suggestion recently while defending the UK’s response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. On being asked whether Britain can seize properties owned by Russian oligarchs, Raab told LBC: “If we’ve got the evidence and the legal basis, then we’ll do it.” Also Read: Weekend Special: Who is a Russian oligarch? Here's what you need to know When enquired about using these properties to house Ukrainian refugees, Raab replied: “Yes, absolutely. The move has been called by the Liberal Democrats and argued for in the government reportedly by the housing secretary Michael Gove. “We are looking at everything in the round, it is a team effort across government, from the foreign and defence secretary through to Michael Gove and, of course, the prime minister is driving this very hard,” Raab said. Also Read: Russia intensifies crackdown on 'fake' reports, blocks Twitter, Facebook The individuals, who had faced sanctions, would not be allowed to repair their property without a licence, or rent or sell it, as per sources. Raab said, “There has been a running commentary that the UK has somehow been slow – we’ve not been slow. We’ve been at the vanguard of taking action and, of course, what is really important is we act in concert with our allies, European, American and other NATO allies.” (With inputs from agencies)

UK government may hand over Russian oligarchs’ seized properties to Ukrainian refugees, says Raab  

Even after using virginity tests for years as ways to control immigration, the UK government has failed to apologise for the deplorable act. &nbsp;

The "virginity testing" was made a criminal offence in November 2021. And the government has also added a clause recently to its health and care bill to make "virginity repair" or hymenoplasty surgery illegal in England and Wales. &nbsp;

All of this has been done but a formal apology is still pending in the case. &nbsp;

The UK Home Office used to test women as a means of immigration control in the past. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/another-tory-mp-submits-no-confidence-letter-becomes-the-12th-one-calling-for-pm-to-quit-449954" hreflang="en">12th Tory MP submits no-confidence letter, calls for PM to quit</a>

The "’virginity’ testing involves visual inspection of the hymenal membrane by a medical professional. In some cases, the examination includes a 'two-finger' test to assess the size of the vaginal opening," as per an article on BMJ Global Health. &nbsp;

But studies show no test or exam can actually determine accurately about the virginity of a woman. &nbsp;

So, the idea of such a test is largely sexist. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/four-of-johnsons-closest-aides-desert-him-as-he-seeks-a-fresh-start-450297">Four of Johnson's closest aides desert him, as he seeks a fresh start</a>

The doctors also believe that the practice is based on misunderstanding about the female body and outdated notions of "purity." &nbsp;

Richard Holden, a British Parliament member who proposed the changes to the law, told CNN, "I couldn't believe it was still happening or that nobody had taken it up. I knew I had to campaign to change the law." &nbsp;

The amendments were evidence of a commitment to "safeguard all women and break down the pervasive myths that surround virginity and a woman's sexuality," a spokesperson of the government told CNN. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Even after using virginity tests for years as ways to control immigration, the UK government has failed to apologise for the deplorable act. The "virginity testing" was made a criminal offence in November 2021.

Even after using virginity tests for years as ways to control immigration, the UK government has failed to apologise for the deplorable act. The "virginity testing" was made a criminal offence in November 2021. And the government has also added a clause recently to its health and care bill to make "virginity repair" or hymenoplasty surgery illegal in England and Wales. All of this has been done but a formal apology is still pending in the case. The UK Home Office used to test women as a means of immigration control in the past. Also Read: 12th Tory MP submits no-confidence letter, calls for PM to quit The "’virginity’ testing involves visual inspection of the hymenal membrane by a medical professional. In some cases, the examination includes a 'two-finger' test to assess the size of the vaginal opening," as per an article on BMJ Global Health. But studies show no test or exam can actually determine accurately about the virginity of a woman. So, the idea of such a test is largely sexist. Also Read: Four of Johnson's closest aides desert him, as he seeks a fresh start The doctors also believe that the practice is based on misunderstanding about the female body and outdated notions of "purity." Richard Holden, a British Parliament member who proposed the changes to the law, told CNN, "I couldn't believe it was still happening or that nobody had taken it up. I knew I had to campaign to change the law." The amendments were evidence of a commitment to "safeguard all women and break down the pervasive myths that surround virginity and a woman's sexuality," a spokesperson of the government told CNN. (With inputs from agencies)

Virginity test’s use as immigration control: UK government’s apology still pending

Former US President Donald Trump's golf courses claimed over $4 million in the furlough money of the UK government.

The turnover of his resorts in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire was reduced by 50 per cent of what they used to earn.

In 2020 alone, Trump's leisure business in Balmedie reported a setback of $1.7 million.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-asks-sc-to-block-release-of-documents-relating-to-capitol-riot-probe-439470" hreflang="en">Donald Trump asks SC to block release of documents relating to Capitol riot probe</a>

Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd (TIGCS), which owns and operates the Trump International Scotland course, said forced the closure of the courses for part of the year and limited guest numbers due to social distancing rules and curfews.

Its report states "The UK government furlough scheme was helpful to retain as many jobs as possible, and the majority of employees were reinstated over the course of the year."&nbsp;

Trump, after decades of buying properties with debt, spent more than $300 million in cash purchasing and developing the Scottish courses, neither of which has turned a profit.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-heckled-by-supporters-in-texas-after-revealing-he-took-covid-booster-dose-438604" hreflang="en">Trump heckled by supporters in Texas after revealing he took Covid booster dose</a>

The Scottish parliament had rejected a call for the government to investigate how Donald Trump funded his purchase of two golf courses in Scotland.

Avaaz, a global human rights group, has filed a petition in Scotland’s highest civil court seeking a judicial review of the government's decision.

Britain introduced "unexplained wealth order"&nbsp;in 2018 to help authorities target the illicit wealth of foreign officials suspected of corruption and those involved in serious crimes.

However, they merely compel an individual to explain the source of their wealth but can pave the way for authorities to seize assets.

In 2006, Trump bought 1,000 acres in Aberdeenshire for more than $10 million. Since then, he’s spent another $60 million building a golf course, a small hotel, and a handful of holiday cottages, according to company filings with the UK corporate registry.

The Trump Organisation has said in public statements and filings that it has spent a total of more than $140 million on the development.

Trump, an avid golfer whose mother was Scottish, made a bigger investment in Turnberry, a seaside course that has four times hosted The Open - Europe's only golf major.&nbsp;

In 2014, he bought Turnberry’s course and resort for $60 million. Company filings in the UK show that Trump’s company spent another $100 million on course upgrades and other expenses.

(With inputs from agencies)

Former US President Donald Trump's golf courses claimed over $4 million in the furlough money of the UK government. The turnover of his resorts in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire was reduced by 50 per cent of what they used to earn.

Former US President Donald Trump's golf courses claimed over $4 million in the furlough money of the UK government. The turnover of his resorts in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire was reduced by 50 per cent of what they used to earn. In 2020 alone, Trump's leisure business in Balmedie reported a setback of $1.7 million. Also read | Donald Trump asks SC to block release of documents relating to Capitol riot probe Trump International Golf Club Scotland Ltd (TIGCS), which owns and operates the Trump International Scotland course, said forced the closure of the courses for part of the year and limited guest numbers due to social distancing rules and curfews. Its report states "The UK government furlough scheme was helpful to retain as many jobs as possible, and the majority of employees were reinstated over the course of the year." Trump, after decades of buying properties with debt, spent more than $300 million in cash purchasing and developing the Scottish courses, neither of which has turned a profit. Also read | Trump heckled by supporters in Texas after revealing he took Covid booster dose The Scottish parliament had rejected a call for the government to investigate how Donald Trump funded his purchase of two golf courses in Scotland. Avaaz, a global human rights group, has filed a petition in Scotland’s highest civil court seeking a judicial review of the government's decision. Britain introduced "unexplained wealth order" in 2018 to help authorities target the illicit wealth of foreign officials suspected of corruption and those involved in serious crimes. However, they merely compel an individual to explain the source of their wealth but can pave the way for authorities to seize assets. In 2006, Trump bought 1,000 acres in Aberdeenshire for more than $10 million. Since then, he’s spent another $60 million building a golf course, a small hotel, and a handful of holiday cottages, according to company filings with the UK corporate registry. The Trump Organisation has said in public statements and filings that it has spent a total of more than $140 million on the development. Trump, an avid golfer whose mother was Scottish, made a bigger investment in Turnberry, a seaside course that has four times hosted The Open - Europe's only golf major. In 2014, he bought Turnberry’s course and resort for $60 million. Company filings in the UK show that Trump’s company spent another $100 million on course upgrades and other expenses. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump's golf courses claimed over $4 million in UK government's furlough money

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings.

The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

Judge Michael Fordham ruled in favour of citizen Katie Rowley against the Cabinet Office for not providing the interpretation during broadcasts on September 21 and October 12 last year.

Fordham said the omission constituted "discrimination" as it breached the "reasonable adjustments duty" but found the government was not "in present or continuing breach".

Campaign group The Good Law Project took it to court amid accusations of inadequate transparency and cronyism relating to the procurement of contracts for personal protective equipment.

In June, the High Court ruled against senior minister Michael Gove for unlawfully awarding a contract worth more than £560,000 ($777,000, 658,000 euros) for virus-related communications to a firm without going through proper procedures.

And state auditors last year found the government failed to account clearly for spending on supplies and services during the pandemic worth £18 billion.

Rowley, a self-employed actor and writer in her thirties from Leeds in northern England, wanted compensation for "injury to feelings".

Her lawyers claimed she should receive thousands of pounds in compensation, and a lower court will award damages at a later date.

Only two of more than 170 COVID-19 briefings were unlawful because British Sign Language was not provided, according to officials.

"Our priority has always been to reach the largest possible audience with important public information," said a government spokesperson.

"We will continue to ensure that British Sign Language interpretation is made available during COVID-19 briefings."

Televised pandemic briefings by the UK's devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have included British Sign Language interpreters on screen.

The London High Court case comes at an inopportune time for the UK government, which on Tuesday launched plans to improve access to public transport and taxis for people with disabilities.

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings. The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic.

A deaf woman on Wednesday won a court case against the UK government for failing to provide sign language interpreters at televised COVID-19 briefings. The ruling is the latest setback for the UK government in its legal battles against citizens suing over its handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Judge Michael Fordham ruled in favour of citizen Katie Rowley against the Cabinet Office for not providing the interpretation during broadcasts on September 21 and October 12 last year. Fordham said the omission constituted "discrimination" as it breached the "reasonable adjustments duty" but found the government was not "in present or continuing breach". Campaign group The Good Law Project took it to court amid accusations of inadequate transparency and cronyism relating to the procurement of contracts for personal protective equipment. In June, the High Court ruled against senior minister Michael Gove for unlawfully awarding a contract worth more than £560,000 ($777,000, 658,000 euros) for virus-related communications to a firm without going through proper procedures. And state auditors last year found the government failed to account clearly for spending on supplies and services during the pandemic worth £18 billion. Rowley, a self-employed actor and writer in her thirties from Leeds in northern England, wanted compensation for "injury to feelings". Her lawyers claimed she should receive thousands of pounds in compensation, and a lower court will award damages at a later date. Only two of more than 170 COVID-19 briefings were unlawful because British Sign Language was not provided, according to officials. "Our priority has always been to reach the largest possible audience with important public information," said a government spokesperson. "We will continue to ensure that British Sign Language interpretation is made available during COVID-19 briefings." Televised pandemic briefings by the UK's devolved authorities in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have included British Sign Language interpreters on screen. The London High Court case comes at an inopportune time for the UK government, which on Tuesday launched plans to improve access to public transport and taxis for people with disabilities.

UK govt loses court case over sign language interpreters

Musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber on Monday cancelled the opening of his new London production of 'Cinderella'&nbsp;and said he had no idea when it would go ahead, blaming "impossible conditions" imposed by the British government. 
 
Lloyd Webber said one person in the cast had tested positive for coronavirus, but the rules around quarantine and isolation for the remainder of the actors - all testing negative - meant the show could not open as planned on Tuesday. 
 
"I have been forced to take the heart-breaking decision not to open my `Cinderella`," Lloyd Webber said in a statement. 
 
"The impossible conditions created by the blunt instrument that is the government`s isolation guidance mean that we cannot continue," he added. 
 
The modern twist on 'Cinderella' was a high-profile new musical following the closure of theatres for almost 18 months because of the pandemic. 
 
Lloyd Webber said he had no idea when 'Cinderella' might go ahead. "I can`t answer," the composer told journalists. "We will open here, but who knows? 2084?" 
 
Lloyd Webber, the creator of hit shows including 'Cats' and 'Phantom of the Opera,' is one of the most influential and successful figures in the theatre world and had been a key voice urging support for theatre during the pandemic. 
 
With music by Lloyd Webber and a story by Oscar-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennell, 'Cinderella' had already suffered several delays due to changing restrictions ordered by the British government around quarantine, social distancing, and capacity in indoor entertainment venues. 
 
"Theatre is now on its knees," Lloyd Webber said. "We can`t isolate every time somebody may or may not have it." 
 
The government on Monday ended over a year of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in England but the so-called Freedom Day was marred by surging infections, warnings of supermarket shortages and Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s own forced self-isolation. 
 
"Freedom Day has turned into closure day," Lloyd Webber said in his statement.

Musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber on Monday cancelled the opening of his new London production of 'Cinderella' and said he had no idea when it would go ahead, blaming "impossible conditions" imposed by the British government.

Musical theatre impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber on Monday cancelled the opening of his new London production of 'Cinderella' and said he had no idea when it would go ahead, blaming "impossible conditions" imposed by the British government. Lloyd Webber said one person in the cast had tested positive for coronavirus, but the rules around quarantine and isolation for the remainder of the actors - all testing negative - meant the show could not open as planned on Tuesday. "I have been forced to take the heart-breaking decision not to open my `Cinderella`," Lloyd Webber said in a statement. "The impossible conditions created by the blunt instrument that is the government`s isolation guidance mean that we cannot continue," he added. The modern twist on 'Cinderella' was a high-profile new musical following the closure of theatres for almost 18 months because of the pandemic. Lloyd Webber said he had no idea when 'Cinderella' might go ahead. "I can`t answer," the composer told journalists. "We will open here, but who knows? 2084?" Lloyd Webber, the creator of hit shows including 'Cats' and 'Phantom of the Opera,' is one of the most influential and successful figures in the theatre world and had been a key voice urging support for theatre during the pandemic. With music by Lloyd Webber and a story by Oscar-winning screenwriter Emerald Fennell, 'Cinderella' had already suffered several delays due to changing restrictions ordered by the British government around quarantine, social distancing, and capacity in indoor entertainment venues. "Theatre is now on its knees," Lloyd Webber said. "We can`t isolate every time somebody may or may not have it." The government on Monday ended over a year of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in England but the so-called Freedom Day was marred by surging infections, warnings of supermarket shortages and Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s own forced self-isolation. "Freedom Day has turned into closure day," Lloyd Webber said in his statement.

'Cinderella' musical in London won't open due to COVID rules, Andrew Llyod Webber blames UK government

The UK government must toughen measures to tackle modern slavery to ensure Uighur forced labour is not used in their supply chains, a panel of British lawmakers has said.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on Tuesday said some British firms could be complicit in the use of forced labour in China's Xinjiang region, and that there was a lack of transparency in firms' supply chains and failures in government.

Xinjiang is home to many Chinese ethnic minorities, including Uighur Muslims.

The MPs said firms in fashion, retail, media and technology could all be implicated, and it was time to fine and blacklist those that failed to change.

The BEIS committee said it was appalled that companies still cannot guarantee that their supply chains are free from forced labour. Those that cannot prove they don't have links with Xingjian should face sanctions, it said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-labour-schemes-are-aimed-at-cutting-uighur-population-density-report-says-367729">Also read |&nbsp;Chinese labour schemes are aimed at cutting Uighur population density, report says</a>

The hard-hitting report says that government policy and modern slavery legislation is “not fit for purpose in tackling this serious situation” and government has been slow to make changes. The report recommends the government accelerates proposals to amend and strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

“The Modern Slavery Act is out of date, has no teeth, and we do not accept that businesses should be excused from doing basic due diligence to guarantee that their supply chains are fully transparent and free from forced labour and slavery,” the report said.

MPs conclusively recommend the government assess options for targeted sanctions against Chinese and international businesses implicated in human rights abuses. The report also calls for the introduction of fines for those who do not comply with modern slavery reporting rules to try to reduce risks in their supply chains.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/crime-against-humanity-and-genocide-us-condemns-china-for-abuse-of-uighurs-tibetans-370024">Also read |&nbsp;'Crime against humanity and genocide': US condemns China for abuse of Uighurs, Tibetans</a>

"The government should create a 'white list' of companies which had shown evidenced actions to ensure their suppliers were not using slave labour in Xinjiang and a black list of those who could not provide such evidence or provide information about their sourcing. It said both lists should be updated every six months," the report added.

(with inputs from reports)

The UK government must toughen measures to tackle modern slavery to ensure Uighur forced labour is not used in their supply chains, a panel of British lawmakers has said.

The UK government must toughen measures to tackle modern slavery to ensure Uighur forced labour is not used in their supply chains, a panel of British lawmakers has said. The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee on Tuesday said some British firms could be complicit in the use of forced labour in China's Xinjiang region, and that there was a lack of transparency in firms' supply chains and failures in government. Xinjiang is home to many Chinese ethnic minorities, including Uighur Muslims. The MPs said firms in fashion, retail, media and technology could all be implicated, and it was time to fine and blacklist those that failed to change. The BEIS committee said it was appalled that companies still cannot guarantee that their supply chains are free from forced labour. Those that cannot prove they don't have links with Xingjian should face sanctions, it said. Also read | Chinese labour schemes are aimed at cutting Uighur population density, report says The hard-hitting report says that government policy and modern slavery legislation is “not fit for purpose in tackling this serious situation” and government has been slow to make changes. The report recommends the government accelerates proposals to amend and strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015. “The Modern Slavery Act is out of date, has no teeth, and we do not accept that businesses should be excused from doing basic due diligence to guarantee that their supply chains are fully transparent and free from forced labour and slavery,” the report said. MPs conclusively recommend the government assess options for targeted sanctions against Chinese and international businesses implicated in human rights abuses. The report also calls for the introduction of fines for those who do not comply with modern slavery reporting rules to try to reduce risks in their supply chains. Also read | 'Crime against humanity and genocide': US condemns China for abuse of Uighurs, Tibetans "The government should create a 'white list' of companies which had shown evidenced actions to ensure their suppliers were not using slave labour in Xinjiang and a black list of those who could not provide such evidence or provide information about their sourcing. It said both lists should be updated every six months," the report added. (with inputs from reports)

UK should crack down on firms using forced labour in China's Xinjiang, MPs say

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) in Britain are lagging behind&nbsp;white people in COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a study.

As per early research on England's coronavirus vaccination programme,&nbsp;only 55 per cent&nbsp;of Black people in England aged between 70 to 79 had been vaccinated against COVID-19 by February&nbsp;11, compared to 86&nbsp;per cent&nbsp;of white people in this age group.

Among people from South Asian backgrounds, the figure stood at 73 per cent, according to a study by OpenSafely, run by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

These ethnic groups have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19 with a disproportionate number of deaths. Government advisers have said that factors such as living circumstances and profession are driving the increased risk.

Public health officials are calling for a more concerted campaign to address vaccine hesitancy as recent polls in Britain have shown that Black, Asian and other minority groups are less open to getting the vaccine than white people because they worry about the vaccine's reliability. Britain's drug regulator has said the vaccines are safe.

The government is banking on the biggest and swiftest global vaccine rollout in its history as the escape route from a series of national lockdowns and their crippling economic impact.

Britain, which was the first Western country to begin mass vaccinations in December, has vaccinated 15.94 million people with a first dose and 558,577 with a second dose, the fastest rollout per capita of any large country.

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) in Britain are lagging behind white people in COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a study. As per early research on England's coronavirus vaccination programme, only 55 per cent of Black people in England aged between 70 to 79 had been vaccinated against COVID-19 by February 11, compared to 86 per cent of white people in this age group.

Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) in Britain are lagging behind white people in COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a study. As per early research on England's coronavirus vaccination programme, only 55 per cent of Black people in England aged between 70 to 79 had been vaccinated against COVID-19 by February 11, compared to 86 per cent of white people in this age group. Among people from South Asian backgrounds, the figure stood at 73 per cent, according to a study by OpenSafely, run by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. These ethnic groups have been particularly hard hit by COVID-19 with a disproportionate number of deaths. Government advisers have said that factors such as living circumstances and profession are driving the increased risk. Public health officials are calling for a more concerted campaign to address vaccine hesitancy as recent polls in Britain have shown that Black, Asian and other minority groups are less open to getting the vaccine than white people because they worry about the vaccine's reliability. Britain's drug regulator has said the vaccines are safe. The government is banking on the biggest and swiftest global vaccine rollout in its history as the escape route from a series of national lockdowns and their crippling economic impact. Britain, which was the first Western country to begin mass vaccinations in December, has vaccinated 15.94 million people with a first dose and 558,577 with a second dose, the fastest rollout per capita of any large country.

UK: Black, South Asian groups lagging behind white people in COVID-19 vaccinations

Following a surge in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus</a> cases after a new strain of the deadly virus was identified, the UK government has issued a 'do not travel' advisory for the locals to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Welwyn Hatfield MP and Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps, took to Twitter to urge people to stay at home and cancel all travel plans, until and unless it is situation of emergency.

The decision has been taken after the French government closed their borders for all incoming travellers from the UK, fearing a spread of the new strain of coronavirus.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-dispatch-uk-government-issues-advisory-do-not-travel-unless-essential-351421">WATCH|</a>

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"Following the French Government's announcement it will not accept any passengers arriving from the UK for the next 48hrs, we're asking the public &amp; particularly hauliers not to travel to Kent ports or other routes to France,"&nbsp;Shapps said. "We expect significant disruption in the area."

In addition to France, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/countries-that-have-blocked-travel-from-uk-after-the-emergence-of-new-strain-of-coronavirus-351376">several other have closed their borders to all incoming flights from the UK</a>. As of now, South Africa, Italy and Australia, too, have reported a case each of the new variant of coronavirus.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/it-works-against-new-variant-too-eu-approves-pfizer-biontech-coronavirus-vaccine-351418" hreflang="en">'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine</a>

Shapps also assured locals they will be entitled to a full refund if their tickets were booked after the announcement of a nationwide lockdown was made by the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

"If you booked a train Steam locomotive or coach Oncoming bus journey for the 23rd - 27th travel window (after it was announced), I've made sure you’re entitled to a full refund. No-one should be left out of pocket for doing the right thing. Please speak to your operators to find out how to claim," he tweeted.

Meanwhile,&nbsp;France’s Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has assured people his government will soon come up with a solution to help travellers cross borders without transmitting the deadly virus. "In the coming hours, at a European level, we will put a solid health protocol in place so that the flow from the United Kingdom can resume," he said.

The&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron, who himself is battling COVID-19 right now, told in his cabinet meeting that the government is "looking at systematic testing upon arrival".

Following a surge in coronavirus cases after a new strain of the deadly virus was identified, the UK government has issued a 'do not travel' advisory for the locals to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Following a surge in coronavirus cases after a new strain of the deadly virus was identified, the UK government has issued a 'do not travel' advisory for the locals to contain the spread of COVID-19. Welwyn Hatfield MP and Secretary of State for Transport, Rt Hon Grant Shapps, took to Twitter to urge people to stay at home and cancel all travel plans, until and unless it is situation of emergency. The decision has been taken after the French government closed their borders for all incoming travellers from the UK, fearing a spread of the new strain of coronavirus. WATCH| × "Following the French Government's announcement it will not accept any passengers arriving from the UK for the next 48hrs, we're asking the public & particularly hauliers not to travel to Kent ports or other routes to France," Shapps said. "We expect significant disruption in the area." In addition to France, several other have closed their borders to all incoming flights from the UK. As of now, South Africa, Italy and Australia, too, have reported a case each of the new variant of coronavirus. Also read| 'It works against new variant too': EU approves Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Shapps also assured locals they will be entitled to a full refund if their tickets were booked after the announcement of a nationwide lockdown was made by the UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "If you booked a train Steam locomotive or coach Oncoming bus journey for the 23rd - 27th travel window (after it was announced), I've made sure you’re entitled to a full refund. No-one should be left out of pocket for doing the right thing. Please speak to your operators to find out how to claim," he tweeted. Meanwhile, France’s Minister of Transport Jean-Baptiste Djebbari has assured people his government will soon come up with a solution to help travellers cross borders without transmitting the deadly virus. "In the coming hours, at a European level, we will put a solid health protocol in place so that the flow from the United Kingdom can resume," he said. The French President Emmanuel Macron, who himself is battling COVID-19 right now, told in his cabinet meeting that the government is "looking at systematic testing upon arrival".

UK government issues 'do not travel' advisory after new strain of coronavirus

Britain's government will give extra support to prevent families going hungry or without essential items this winter, a climbdown after resisting calls by soccer player Marcus Rashford to extend free school meals to disadvantaged children.

Rashford 'very happy' after UK government U-turn on child food poverty

The United Kingdom government is considering proposals put forth by members of parliament to allow Uighurs and other Muslim minorities to file a petition in the high court against the genocide taking place in the Xinjiang region of China, according to media reports.

Citing media reports in the country, Sputnik reported that the proposals were being led by Conservative lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, who said that the UK should take tougher action against China.

"The government has still not got it on human rights in China. If an African country was doing what China is doing, ministers would be all over it, but because of China's size and influence at the UN, it runs away. It is time we stood up against the abuses underway within China," Sputnik quoted Smith who told a newspaper.

Pro-Uyghur lawmakers in the UK parliament are proposing that no trade bill regulations that concern Beijing should be enacted if a High Court judge rules that genocide is being committed in China, according to media reports.

Smith said that more than 40 ruling Conservative Party lawmakers in the House of Commons are expected to support the proposal, which should allow it to pass even if the government poses resistance.

The international community has levied accusations against the Chinese authorities of oppression against ethnic Uighurs.

According to Sputnik, the US House of Representatives on September 22 passed legislation to ban imports of products made with "forced labor" in Xinjiang over alleged human rights abuses, amid accusations that Uighurs are being held in so-called re-education camps.

The Chinese government has denied the charges, saying that the camps are to provide vocational and Chinese language training for Uighurs and other Muslim minorities.

The Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking minority from Central Asia, are a distinct ethnic group from Han Chinese, with Urumqi being closer to Kabul than Beijing. In 2009, the most infamous riots broke out in the streets of Urumqi, Xinjiang which pitted Uyghur Muslims against Han Chinese.

The CCP government has turned the entire region into a highly controlled, open-air prison after the Urumqi riots in 2009. The CCP has turned the region into a "brutal totalitarian police state" and everything unique about Uighurs is "systematically targeted".

There have been growing calls for action against the Chinese officials involved in human rights violations in Xinjiang.

The United Kingdom government is considering proposals put forth by members of parliament to allow Uighurs and other Muslim minorities to file a petition in the high court against the genocide taking place in the Xinjiang region of China, according to media reports.

The United Kingdom government is considering proposals put forth by members of parliament to allow Uighurs and other Muslim minorities to file a petition in the high court against the genocide taking place in the Xinjiang region of China, according to media reports. Citing media reports in the country, Sputnik reported that the proposals were being led by Conservative lawmaker Iain Duncan Smith, who said that the UK should take tougher action against China. "The government has still not got it on human rights in China. If an African country was doing what China is doing, ministers would be all over it, but because of China's size and influence at the UN, it runs away. It is time we stood up against the abuses underway within China," Sputnik quoted Smith who told a newspaper. Pro-Uyghur lawmakers in the UK parliament are proposing that no trade bill regulations that concern Beijing should be enacted if a High Court judge rules that genocide is being committed in China, according to media reports. Smith said that more than 40 ruling Conservative Party lawmakers in the House of Commons are expected to support the proposal, which should allow it to pass even if the government poses resistance. The international community has levied accusations against the Chinese authorities of oppression against ethnic Uighurs. According to Sputnik, the US House of Representatives on September 22 passed legislation to ban imports of products made with "forced labor" in Xinjiang over alleged human rights abuses, amid accusations that Uighurs are being held in so-called re-education camps. The Chinese government has denied the charges, saying that the camps are to provide vocational and Chinese language training for Uighurs and other Muslim minorities. The Uighurs, a Turkic-speaking minority from Central Asia, are a distinct ethnic group from Han Chinese, with Urumqi being closer to Kabul than Beijing. In 2009, the most infamous riots broke out in the streets of Urumqi, Xinjiang which pitted Uyghur Muslims against Han Chinese. The CCP government has turned the entire region into a highly controlled, open-air prison after the Urumqi riots in 2009. The CCP has turned the region into a "brutal totalitarian police state" and everything unique about Uighurs is "systematically targeted". There have been growing calls for action against the Chinese officials involved in human rights violations in Xinjiang.

UK government mulls proposal to allow Uighurs to file plea in High Court against genocide in China

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people to go back to work if they can. UK government said that it is now safe to return to work. Govt. asked people to help the economy recovery.

UK: Johnson urges people to return to work to help the economy recover

The first healthy volunteer has received a coronavirus vaccine developed by Imperial College London researchers. Imperial College London's vaccine candidate is being developed and trialed as part of 41 million pounds in funding from the UK government and a further 5 million pounds in philanthropic donations. Watch report.

Coronavirus Pandemic: 1st volunteer gets imperial COVID-19 vaccine

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