Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed.

This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions. However, post-Brexit rules have kicked in and this is clearly having an effect.

3,294 EU citizens were barred from entering the UK over last three months.

In the same quarter last year, 493 EU citizens were barred from entry. This was even when air traffic was 20 times higher.

The passengers are often being held in detention before being expelled.

The Home Office ordered earlier this month that EU citizens should not be locked up and should be given bail so that they can stay with their relatives and friends until the matter is resolved.

Experts have been quoted in media reports expressing fear that the number of EU citizens expelled would go up once restrictions for air travel are eased.

Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed. This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions.

Number of European Union citizens being prevented from entering the UK has gone up in last three months, figures with UK Home Office revealed. This spike has been seen in spite of the massive reduction in travel due to Covid restrictions. However, post-Brexit rules have kicked in and this is clearly having an effect. 3,294 EU citizens were barred from entering the UK over last three months. In the same quarter last year, 493 EU citizens were barred from entry. This was even when air traffic was 20 times higher. The passengers are often being held in detention before being expelled. The Home Office ordered earlier this month that EU citizens should not be locked up and should be given bail so that they can stay with their relatives and friends until the matter is resolved. Experts have been quoted in media reports expressing fear that the number of EU citizens expelled would go up once restrictions for air travel are eased.

More EU citizens are being denied entry into UK after Brexit

France is re-introducing tighter rules on arrivals from UK who are not French residents to curb the spread of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">Covid</a>, notably its Indian variant, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Britons and other non-EU arrivals will again have to prove that they have a "compelling reason" to enter France, it said.

The ministry did not define "compelling", but the government has previously said that family, health or professional reasons could be acceptable.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/three-quarters-of-new-covid-infections-in-uk-due-to-b16172-variant-of-concern-health-minister-387920" hreflang="en">Three quarters of new Covid infections in UK due to B.1.617.2 'variant of concern': Health minister</a>

France had relaxed that requirement in March for the United Kingdom, as well as a number of other non-members of the EU, which Britain left last year.

But again from Monday "compelling reasons will be required for non-EU foreigners who are not residents in France and who come to France from the United Kingdom", the ministry said in a statement.

It said in addition those visitors would have to self-isolate for seven days on arrival.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/germany-to-vaccinate-children-over-12-from-june-7-387996" hreflang="en">Germany to vaccinate children over 12 from June 7</a>

The ministry added, however, that, for now, there would be "no systematic checks" to ensure compliance with the requirement, "given the low incidence of Covid in Britain".

Visitors from Britain will still need a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old to be allowed into the country.

The French move comes after Germany said that travellers arriving there from the UK have to submit to a quarantine period of two weeks, regardless of whether they can provide a negative test result for the virus.

A French quarantine order is already in place for arrivals from Brazil, India, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Bahrain, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Police are authorised to carry out random spot checks to ensure that quarantine rules are respected, with non-compliance punished with fines of up to 1,500 euros ($1,800).

The coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, a World Health Organization report showed Wednesday.

France is re-introducing tighter rules on arrivals from UK who are not French residents to curb the spread of Covid, notably its Indian variant, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.

France is re-introducing tighter rules on arrivals from UK who are not French residents to curb the spread of Covid, notably its Indian variant, the foreign ministry said on Thursday. Britons and other non-EU arrivals will again have to prove that they have a "compelling reason" to enter France, it said. The ministry did not define "compelling", but the government has previously said that family, health or professional reasons could be acceptable. Also read | Three quarters of new Covid infections in UK due to B.1.617.2 'variant of concern': Health minister France had relaxed that requirement in March for the United Kingdom, as well as a number of other non-members of the EU, which Britain left last year. But again from Monday "compelling reasons will be required for non-EU foreigners who are not residents in France and who come to France from the United Kingdom", the ministry said in a statement. It said in addition those visitors would have to self-isolate for seven days on arrival. Also read | Germany to vaccinate children over 12 from June 7 The ministry added, however, that, for now, there would be "no systematic checks" to ensure compliance with the requirement, "given the low incidence of Covid in Britain". Visitors from Britain will still need a PCR or antigen test less than 48 hours old to be allowed into the country. The French move comes after Germany said that travellers arriving there from the UK have to submit to a quarantine period of two weeks, regardless of whether they can provide a negative test result for the virus. A French quarantine order is already in place for arrivals from Brazil, India, Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Colombia, Uruguay, Costa Rica, Bahrain, Turkey, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Police are authorised to carry out random spot checks to ensure that quarantine rules are respected, with non-compliance punished with fines of up to 1,500 euros ($1,800). The coronavirus variant first detected in India has now been officially recorded in 53 territories, a World Health Organization report showed Wednesday.

France reimposes strict Covid curbs on travel from UK

Papers and a diverse range of personal items belonging to the late British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking have been acquired by Cambridge University and a UK museum group.

Under an agreement between Cambridge University Library, the Science Museum Group and the UK government, the entire contents of the world-renowned scientist's office and archive will be preserved for future generations.

The £4.2 million ($5.9 million, 4.8 million euros) deal means 10,000 pages of Hawking's scientific papers and other documents will remain in the university city of Cambridge in eastern England where he died in 2018.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/albert-einsteins-letter-with-famous-emc2-equation-sold-for-13-million-386673">Albert Einstein's letter with famous E=mc2 equation sold for $1.3 million</a>

Objects including his wheelchairs, speech synthesisers, and personal memorabilia including his entire Cambridge office will be housed at London's Science Museum and selected highlights will go on display next year.

The Cambridge archive, which includes documents dating from 1944 to 2008 including his academic papers and TV scripts from appearances on shows like "The Simpsons", will be housed alongside papers from Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin.

The ashes of Hawking, who died in March 2018, aged 76, were interred alongside the graves of Newton and Darwin in London's Westminster Abbey.

Hawking, a theoretical physicist, dedicated his life to unravelling the mysteries of the universe, including the nature of time and space -- relativity -- and quantum theory, how the smallest particles behave.

He popularised the obscure science surrounding the governing rules of the universe and black holes in his best-selling 1988 book "A Brief History of Time".

- 'Legacy upheld' - 
As his stature grew, he became an instantly recognisable popular figure. Motor neurone disease left him using a wheelchair and unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser.

However, the rare amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that gradually robbed him of mobility did nothing to dull his mind or trademark wit.

"We are very pleased that these two important institutions will preserve our father's life's work for the benefit of generations to come and make his legacy accessible to the widest possible audience," his children Lucy, Tim and Robert Hawking said in a statement.

"Our father strongly believed that everyone should have the chance to engage with science so he would be delighted that his legacy will be upheld by the Science Museum and Cambridge University Library," they added.

Cambridge University librarian Jessica Gardner said it was "profoundly important" his archive was preserved in the city where "alongside the work of his hero, Newton, and so many other scientists".

"It's a really important part of the legacy," she added.

Papers and a diverse range of personal items belonging to the late British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking have been acquired by Cambridge University and a UK museum group.

Papers and a diverse range of personal items belonging to the late British astrophysicist Stephen Hawking have been acquired by Cambridge University and a UK museum group. Under an agreement between Cambridge University Library, the Science Museum Group and the UK government, the entire contents of the world-renowned scientist's office and archive will be preserved for future generations. The £4.2 million ($5.9 million, 4.8 million euros) deal means 10,000 pages of Hawking's scientific papers and other documents will remain in the university city of Cambridge in eastern England where he died in 2018. Also read | Albert Einstein's letter with famous E=mc2 equation sold for $1.3 million Objects including his wheelchairs, speech synthesisers, and personal memorabilia including his entire Cambridge office will be housed at London's Science Museum and selected highlights will go on display next year. The Cambridge archive, which includes documents dating from 1944 to 2008 including his academic papers and TV scripts from appearances on shows like "The Simpsons", will be housed alongside papers from Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. The ashes of Hawking, who died in March 2018, aged 76, were interred alongside the graves of Newton and Darwin in London's Westminster Abbey. Hawking, a theoretical physicist, dedicated his life to unravelling the mysteries of the universe, including the nature of time and space -- relativity -- and quantum theory, how the smallest particles behave. He popularised the obscure science surrounding the governing rules of the universe and black holes in his best-selling 1988 book "A Brief History of Time". - 'Legacy upheld' - As his stature grew, he became an instantly recognisable popular figure. Motor neurone disease left him using a wheelchair and unable to speak except through a voice synthesiser. However, the rare amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) that gradually robbed him of mobility did nothing to dull his mind or trademark wit. "We are very pleased that these two important institutions will preserve our father's life's work for the benefit of generations to come and make his legacy accessible to the widest possible audience," his children Lucy, Tim and Robert Hawking said in a statement. "Our father strongly believed that everyone should have the chance to engage with science so he would be delighted that his legacy will be upheld by the Science Museum and Cambridge University Library," they added. Cambridge University librarian Jessica Gardner said it was "profoundly important" his archive was preserved in the city where "alongside the work of his hero, Newton, and so many other scientists". "It's a really important part of the legacy," she added.

Stephen Hawking's office and archive to be preserved in UK

Boris Johnson's former aide Dominic Cummings ripped into his former boss - blaming him for mishandling the pandemic. Cummings says the UK PM offered to get the virus injected on live TV to assure his citizens that it wasn't deadly. Why is Johnson's former right-hand man exposing him? How has the PM responded? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Did Boris Johnson ask to be injected with COVID on TV?

UK Health Minister Matt Hancock has published the allegations made by the Prime Minister's former chief aide who accused him of lying. Speaking in the House of Commons Hancock said that Dominic Cummings' allegations were unsubstantiated.

Hancock: Did everything to save lives, Cummings' claims unsubstantiated

Vijay Mallya on Wednesday lost an appeal to gain access to court-held funds to cover his costs for legal proceedings in India, as a High Court judge in London concluded that the 65-year-old businessman sought 750,000 pounds but there is not enough evidence to support the demand being made.

UK: Judge denies for more funds 'for legal charges' to Indian fugitive Vijay Mallya

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former chief adviser will on Wednesday cast his former boss as a dithering leader surrounded by fools whose ineptitude led to a 'disastrous' response to the most devastating global pandemic in decades.&nbsp;

With almost 128,000 deaths, the United Kingdom has the world's fifth worst official Covid toll, and Johnson was slow to appreciate the significance of the threat from the virus in early 2020 as it spread from China towards Britain's shores.&nbsp;

Dominic Cummings, the strategist behind the 2016 Brexit campaign and Johnson's landslide election win in 2019, will be quizzed by British lawmakers from 0830 GMT on the lessons that can be learned from the pandemic.&nbsp;

Cummings, who left the government late last year, has said the British health ministry was a 'smoking ruin', that Western governments failed during the crisis, and that the secretive British state was woefully unprepared for the pandemic.&nbsp;

"The Covid plan was supposed to be 'world class' but turned out to be part disaster, part non-existent," Cummings said on May 18 in one of dozens of tweets forming a critique of Britain's response.&nbsp;

"If we'd had the right preparations + competent people in charge, we would probably have avoided lockdown1, *definitely* no need for lockdowns 2&amp;3," he said.&nbsp;

Cummings, played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the film 'Brexit: The Uncivil War', casts the British state as an outdated system run by incompetent amateurs, who are resistant to any innovation that would bring them closer to the modern world.&nbsp;

British officials, he said, failed to learn the early Covid lessons from Asia, were resistant to new ideas from young scientists, overly secretive, overly bureaucratic and lacked any real scrutiny from a compliant domestic media.&nbsp;

Asked about Cummings' criticism, Johnson's spokesman said. "At all times, we have been guided by the data and the latest evidence we had."&nbsp;

In a series of investigations, it was reported how the British government made several errors: it was slow to spot the infections arriving, it was late with a lockdown and it continued to discharge infected hospital patients into care homes.&nbsp;

The government's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said in March 2020 that 20,000 deaths would be a good outcome. Soon after, a worst-case scenario prepared by government scientific advisers put the possible death toll at 50,000. The toll is now close to 128,000.&nbsp;

Johnson has admitted that mistakes were made and that lessons need to be learned, but his ministers say they were working at pace in the biggest public health crisis in a century.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former chief adviser will on Wednesday cast his former boss as a dithering leader surrounded by fools whose ineptitude led to a 'disastrous' response to the most devastating global pandemic in decades.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's former chief adviser will on Wednesday cast his former boss as a dithering leader surrounded by fools whose ineptitude led to a 'disastrous' response to the most devastating global pandemic in decades. With almost 128,000 deaths, the United Kingdom has the world's fifth worst official Covid toll, and Johnson was slow to appreciate the significance of the threat from the virus in early 2020 as it spread from China towards Britain's shores. Dominic Cummings, the strategist behind the 2016 Brexit campaign and Johnson's landslide election win in 2019, will be quizzed by British lawmakers from 0830 GMT on the lessons that can be learned from the pandemic. Cummings, who left the government late last year, has said the British health ministry was a 'smoking ruin', that Western governments failed during the crisis, and that the secretive British state was woefully unprepared for the pandemic. "The Covid plan was supposed to be 'world class' but turned out to be part disaster, part non-existent," Cummings said on May 18 in one of dozens of tweets forming a critique of Britain's response. "If we'd had the right preparations + competent people in charge, we would probably have avoided lockdown1, *definitely* no need for lockdowns 2&3," he said. Cummings, played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the film 'Brexit: The Uncivil War', casts the British state as an outdated system run by incompetent amateurs, who are resistant to any innovation that would bring them closer to the modern world. British officials, he said, failed to learn the early Covid lessons from Asia, were resistant to new ideas from young scientists, overly secretive, overly bureaucratic and lacked any real scrutiny from a compliant domestic media. Asked about Cummings' criticism, Johnson's spokesman said. "At all times, we have been guided by the data and the latest evidence we had." In a series of investigations, it was reported how the British government made several errors: it was slow to spot the infections arriving, it was late with a lockdown and it continued to discharge infected hospital patients into care homes. The government's chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said in March 2020 that 20,000 deaths would be a good outcome. Soon after, a worst-case scenario prepared by government scientific advisers put the possible death toll at 50,000. The toll is now close to 128,000. Johnson has admitted that mistakes were made and that lessons need to be learned, but his ministers say they were working at pace in the biggest public health crisis in a century. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Covid 'disaster' to be laid bare by PM Johnson's ex-chief adviser Dominic Cummings

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being accused by his former adviser Dominic Cummings of overseeing a chaotic government whose failure to act quickly against the coronavirus caused thousands of unnecessary deaths.

PM Boris Johnson's former ally slams UK response to Coronavirus pandemic

The UK government on Tuesday faced accusations of 'confusion and uncertainty' after it introduced additional guidance to curtail non-essential travel in and out of so-called hotspots of the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC), first identified in India, as part of measures to control the spread of the virus.&nbsp;

Local authorities in the affected areas said they were not consulted or informed as the government's coronavirus restrictions website changed its guidance over the last few days for people living in eight areas of Bedford council, Blackburn with Darwen council, Bolton Metropolitan council, Burnley council, Kirklees council, Leicester council, Hounslow council and North Tyneside council.&nbsp;

The guidance also calls upon residents of these regions of England to avoid indoor gatherings, which is now currently permitted in most other parts of the country as part of the lockdown lifting roadmap.&nbsp;

"In the areas listed... Wherever possible, you should try to meet outside rather than inside where possible; keep 2 metres apart from people that you don't live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don't live with; avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education," the website notes.&nbsp;

However, a row has broken out after the new guidance appeared to have been issued without a widespread announcement.&nbsp;

"This is a major change to policy that will have a huge impact on people's lives. Simply updating the government website without an official announcement is a recipe for confusion and uncertainty," said Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus.&nbsp;

"It seems crucial lessons have still not been learnt about the importance of clear messaging during a pandemic," she said.&nbsp;

Cabinet minister Therese Coffey told 'Sky News', the government had been "working in close contact" with affected areas and she was "surprised to hear that people think this has come out of the blue, "it hasn't".&nbsp;

"This is just part of a coordinated effort and the guidance is simply a formality recognising people need to be extra careful in those communities in particular where the issue has been spreading," she said, adding that all the guidance does is simply formalise what was already effectively happening in practice in the locality.&nbsp;

A Downing Street source told the BBC that all the areas were informed about the latest advice and pointed out that it was advice rather than law and therefore dismissed allegations of localised lockdown by stealth.&nbsp;

According to the latest Public Health England (PHE) data released last week, B1.617.2 VOC cases had risen by 2,111 over the previous week to hit 3,424 cases across the UK and experts are certain of its higher transmissibility than the dominant local B1.1.7 VOC, first discovered in the England county of Kent. The health officials continue to monitor both mutations to try and keep the UK's planned end to lockdown on track for June 21.&nbsp;

The UK has reported more than 4,480,760 confirmed cases and over 127,986 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracker.&nbsp;

The UK government on Tuesday faced accusations of 'confusion and uncertainty' after it introduced additional guidance to curtail non-essential travel in and out of so-called hotspots of the B1.

The UK government on Tuesday faced accusations of 'confusion and uncertainty' after it introduced additional guidance to curtail non-essential travel in and out of so-called hotspots of the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC), first identified in India, as part of measures to control the spread of the virus. Local authorities in the affected areas said they were not consulted or informed as the government's coronavirus restrictions website changed its guidance over the last few days for people living in eight areas of Bedford council, Blackburn with Darwen council, Bolton Metropolitan council, Burnley council, Kirklees council, Leicester council, Hounslow council and North Tyneside council. The guidance also calls upon residents of these regions of England to avoid indoor gatherings, which is now currently permitted in most other parts of the country as part of the lockdown lifting roadmap. "In the areas listed... Wherever possible, you should try to meet outside rather than inside where possible; keep 2 metres apart from people that you don't live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don't live with; avoid travelling in and out of affected areas unless it is essential, for example for work (if you cannot work from home) or education," the website notes. However, a row has broken out after the new guidance appeared to have been issued without a widespread announcement. "This is a major change to policy that will have a huge impact on people's lives. Simply updating the government website without an official announcement is a recipe for confusion and uncertainty," said Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus. "It seems crucial lessons have still not been learnt about the importance of clear messaging during a pandemic," she said. Cabinet minister Therese Coffey told 'Sky News', the government had been "working in close contact" with affected areas and she was "surprised to hear that people think this has come out of the blue, "it hasn't". "This is just part of a coordinated effort and the guidance is simply a formality recognising people need to be extra careful in those communities in particular where the issue has been spreading," she said, adding that all the guidance does is simply formalise what was already effectively happening in practice in the locality. A Downing Street source told the BBC that all the areas were informed about the latest advice and pointed out that it was advice rather than law and therefore dismissed allegations of localised lockdown by stealth. According to the latest Public Health England (PHE) data released last week, B1.617.2 VOC cases had risen by 2,111 over the previous week to hit 3,424 cases across the UK and experts are certain of its higher transmissibility than the dominant local B1.1.7 VOC, first discovered in the England county of Kent. The health officials continue to monitor both mutations to try and keep the UK's planned end to lockdown on track for June 21. The UK has reported more than 4,480,760 confirmed cases and over 127,986 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 tracker.

COVID-19: UK issues localised directions on travel, gatherings to tackle B1.617.2 variant  

The European Union's tensions with former member Britain are not due to problems with the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by both sides, but Brexit itself, the head of the bloc’s executive said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference after the first day of an EU summit in Brussels that all 27 member states of the bloc agreed that there can be no alternative to a full and correct implementation of the protocol.&nbsp;

"There should be no doubt that there is no alternative to the full and correct implementation of the protocol, she said.&nbsp;

"It is important to reiterate that the protocol is the only possible solution to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland while protecting the integrity of the European Union single market," von der Leyen added.&nbsp;

"If we see problems today we should not forget that they do not come from the protocol but result from Brexit, that is the reason why the problems are there."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

The European Union's tensions with former member Britain are not due to problems with the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by both sides, but Brexit itself, the head of the bloc’s executive said on Tuesday.

The European Union's tensions with former member Britain are not due to problems with the Northern Ireland protocol agreed by both sides, but Brexit itself, the head of the bloc’s executive said on Tuesday. Ursula von der Leyen told a news conference after the first day of an EU summit in Brussels that all 27 member states of the bloc agreed that there can be no alternative to a full and correct implementation of the protocol. "There should be no doubt that there is no alternative to the full and correct implementation of the protocol, she said. "It is important to reiterate that the protocol is the only possible solution to ensure peace and stability in Northern Ireland while protecting the integrity of the European Union single market," von der Leyen added. "If we see problems today we should not forget that they do not come from the protocol but result from Brexit, that is the reason why the problems are there." (With inputs from agencies)

EU says tensions with UK stem from Brexit, not Northern Ireland protocol 

Islamophobia within Britain's ruling Conservative Party is a problem both at an individual level and beyond but falls short of "institutional racism", an independent investigation concluded on Tuesday. 
 
The centre-right party has been dogged for years by accusations of anti-Muslim sentiment that have been levelled against members, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson.&nbsp; 
 
The former journalist's comments comparing Muslim women in veils to letterboxes and bank robbers, in a newspaper column in 2018, contributed to a "widespread" perception that the Tories have a "Muslim problem", the report said. 
 
"Anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem within the party. This is damaging to the party, and alienates a significant section of society," the investigation led by Swaran Singh, a former commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, found. 
 
Singh said he believed the report was "going to be very uncomfortable for the party", and hoped it would "spur them into action". 
 
The investigation said since 2015 the "bulk" of discrimination complaints had been made over anti-Muslim allegations. 
 
Of 1,418 complaints relating to 727 incidents of alleged discrimination, more than two-thirds of the incidents&nbsp;496 cases&nbsp;related to Islam. 
 
But while the report found "there were examples of anti-Muslim discrimination by individuals and groups at local association level", it said those problems fell short of claims of "institutional racism". 
 
The report said there was no evidence that complaints related to Islam are treated differently from those related to other forms of discrimination. 
 
Johnson told Singh's probe he was "sorry for any offence taken" over his 2018 column and added he would not use "some of the offending language from my past writings" now that he was prime minister.

'Unable or unwilling' 
The report also considered accusations made by the campaign of 2016 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith claiming his Muslim Labour rival Sadiq Khan associated with extremists. 
 
Goldsmith told the investigation the accusations showed "poor judgement in the way his campaign was conducted" and he denied "harbouring anti-Muslim sentiments or using such sentiments for political advantage". 
 
MP and former Conservative finance minister Sajid Javid, the son of Muslim Pakistani immigrants, highlighted "distressing examples of anti-Muslim sentiment" listed in the report. 
 
"Stamping out discrimination, whether against Muslims or any other minority group, is an issue where our country's political parties have a responsibility," he said. 
 
Former Conservative chairwoman Sayeeda Warsi, a member of the House of Lords and a longtime critic of her party's handling of Islamophobia, tweeted the report revealed a party that was "at best unable and at worst unwilling to deal with the issue of racism". 
 
In response to the investigation, the Conservative Party said it accepted the report's recommendations and would work harder to counter discrimination in all its forms. 
 
"On behalf of the Conservative Party I would like to apologise to anyone who has been hurt by discriminatory behaviour of others or failed by our system," party co-chairwoman Amanda Milling said. 
 
She added the party would "continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination" and "take immediate action to improve our handling of complaints". 
 
The opposition Labour party has meanwhile been dogged for years by incidents of anti-Semitism, blamed particularly on far-left followers of former leader Jeremy Corbyn. 
 
In October, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said Corbyn's office had broken the law in its handling of complaints by Jewish members. His successor Keir Starmer has apologised profusely and suspended Corbyn from the party.

Islamophobia within Britain's ruling Conservative Party is a problem both at an individual level and beyond but falls short of "institutional racism", an independent investigation concluded on Tuesday.

Islamophobia within Britain's ruling Conservative Party is a problem both at an individual level and beyond but falls short of "institutional racism", an independent investigation concluded on Tuesday. The centre-right party has been dogged for years by accusations of anti-Muslim sentiment that have been levelled against members, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The former journalist's comments comparing Muslim women in veils to letterboxes and bank robbers, in a newspaper column in 2018, contributed to a "widespread" perception that the Tories have a "Muslim problem", the report said. "Anti-Muslim sentiment remains a problem within the party. This is damaging to the party, and alienates a significant section of society," the investigation led by Swaran Singh, a former commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission, found. Singh said he believed the report was "going to be very uncomfortable for the party", and hoped it would "spur them into action". The investigation said since 2015 the "bulk" of discrimination complaints had been made over anti-Muslim allegations. Of 1,418 complaints relating to 727 incidents of alleged discrimination, more than two-thirds of the incidents 496 cases related to Islam. But while the report found "there were examples of anti-Muslim discrimination by individuals and groups at local association level", it said those problems fell short of claims of "institutional racism". The report said there was no evidence that complaints related to Islam are treated differently from those related to other forms of discrimination. Johnson told Singh's probe he was "sorry for any offence taken" over his 2018 column and added he would not use "some of the offending language from my past writings" now that he was prime minister. 'Unable or unwilling' The report also considered accusations made by the campaign of 2016 Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith claiming his Muslim Labour rival Sadiq Khan associated with extremists. Goldsmith told the investigation the accusations showed "poor judgement in the way his campaign was conducted" and he denied "harbouring anti-Muslim sentiments or using such sentiments for political advantage". MP and former Conservative finance minister Sajid Javid, the son of Muslim Pakistani immigrants, highlighted "distressing examples of anti-Muslim sentiment" listed in the report. "Stamping out discrimination, whether against Muslims or any other minority group, is an issue where our country's political parties have a responsibility," he said. Former Conservative chairwoman Sayeeda Warsi, a member of the House of Lords and a longtime critic of her party's handling of Islamophobia, tweeted the report revealed a party that was "at best unable and at worst unwilling to deal with the issue of racism". In response to the investigation, the Conservative Party said it accepted the report's recommendations and would work harder to counter discrimination in all its forms. "On behalf of the Conservative Party I would like to apologise to anyone who has been hurt by discriminatory behaviour of others or failed by our system," party co-chairwoman Amanda Milling said. She added the party would "continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination" and "take immediate action to improve our handling of complaints". The opposition Labour party has meanwhile been dogged for years by incidents of anti-Semitism, blamed particularly on far-left followers of former leader Jeremy Corbyn. In October, the Equality and Human Rights Commission said Corbyn's office had broken the law in its handling of complaints by Jewish members. His successor Keir Starmer has apologised profusely and suspended Corbyn from the party.

Islamophobia a 'problem' in UK's ruling party, probe finds

British government on Monday said that it had instructed UK aircraft&nbsp;to avoid Belarus airspace. Additionally, it slapped a ban on Belarusian flag carrier Belavia. UK also summoned Belarusian ambassador over the issue of forced diversion of a passenger plane that culminated into arrest of a 26-year-old Belarusian activist who opposed country's President Alexander Lukashenko.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had told the Civil Aviation Authority to issue instructions "in order to keep passengers safe".&nbsp;

He also suspended the operating permit of Belavia, which flies daily London Gatwick to Minsk flights via Paris in a code-share with Air France.

Belarus on Sunday (Indian time) sent a fighter jet plane to divert a Lithuania-bound Rayanair passenger plane and arrested a 26-year-old opposition activist Roman Protasevich. This has raised tensions as Belarus drew a lot of flak from European countries as well as the USA.

Russia appears to have sided with Belarus as it said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-finds-belarus-approach-to-plane-incident-reasonable-387125">Belarusian response to the plane incident was "reasonable"</a>

Roman Protasevich (26), who was arrested by Belarus authorities on Sunday is a Belarusian journalist and activist.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-finds-belarus-approach-to-plane-incident-reasonable-387125">Russia finds Belarus approach to plane incident 'reasonable'</a>

Together with co-founder Stepan Putilo he had until recently run the Nexta telegram channel that galvanised and directed huge protests against Lukashenko's disputed re-election to a sixth term in August 2020.

(With inputs from agencies)

British government on Monday said that it had instructed UK aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace. Additionally, it slapped a ban on Belarusian flag carrier Belavia.

British government on Monday said that it had instructed UK aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace. Additionally, it slapped a ban on Belarusian flag carrier Belavia. UK also summoned Belarusian ambassador over the issue of forced diversion of a passenger plane that culminated into arrest of a 26-year-old Belarusian activist who opposed country's President Alexander Lukashenko. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had told the Civil Aviation Authority to issue instructions "in order to keep passengers safe". He also suspended the operating permit of Belavia, which flies daily London Gatwick to Minsk flights via Paris in a code-share with Air France. Belarus on Sunday (Indian time) sent a fighter jet plane to divert a Lithuania-bound Rayanair passenger plane and arrested a 26-year-old opposition activist Roman Protasevich. This has raised tensions as Belarus drew a lot of flak from European countries as well as the USA. Russia appears to have sided with Belarus as it said that Belarusian response to the plane incident was "reasonable" Roman Protasevich (26), who was arrested by Belarus authorities on Sunday is a Belarusian journalist and activist. Also Read | Russia finds Belarus approach to plane incident 'reasonable' Together with co-founder Stepan Putilo he had until recently run the Nexta telegram channel that galvanised and directed huge protests against Lukashenko's disputed re-election to a sixth term in August 2020. (With inputs from agencies)

UK orders aircraft to avoid Belarus airspace, suspends Belavia

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel unveiled the government's new immigration policy, announcing sweeping reforms to streamline the way in which people enter into the United Kingdom.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel announces 'wholesale' immigration reforms

The United Kingdom is going to try something new to beat the ill effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide, one of the key heating agents on Earth, will be sucked out of the air across the country. Scientists intend to use trees, rock chips, charcoal and peat in the groundbreaking trials which could change mitigation modules across the world.

The project was funded by UK Research and Innovation and intends to cover gaps caused by previous failures in limiting CO2 emissions. The goal is to reach net zero levels by 2050 in a bid to halt climate change. This is one of the largest trials of its kind in the world and will look at ways to do this effectively across 100 hectares (247 acres) of land.

As part of this, peatlands that have degraded will be re-wetted and replanted in the Pennines and west Wales, The Guardian reported. In addition, CO2 absorbing rock chips will be tested across farms in mid-Wakes, Devon, and Hertfordshire.

Biochar, a special type of charcoal will be put to use as well. It will be buried at multiple sewage disposal sites, former mining sites as well as railway embankments. In addition, the trials will attempt to ascertain ways to use trees to capture carbon across the United Kingdom.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/science/meet-climate-changes-latest-offering-to-earth-zombie-wildfires-386102" hreflang="en">Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires'</a>

During the final trial, scientists will study the potential of energy crops like miscanthus and willow at a commercial scale for the first time.

Professor Cameron Hepburn, from the University of Oxford who is leading the trials told The Guardian that the trials are “pretty much world leading”. Hepburn added how nobody wanted to suck out CO2 from the world’s atmosphere but “that’s where we are”, claiming that climate action has been delayed for too long.

Even then, he emphasised how CO2 removal is not an effective substitute to cutting down emissions and that cutting down on fossil fuel burning remains key to tackling climate change.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/climate-change-is-killing-worlds-oldest-animal-cave-painting-in-sulawesi-386069" hreflang="en">Climate change is killing world's oldest animal cave painting in Sulawesi</a>

The United Kingdom is going to try something new to beat the ill effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide, one of the key heating agents on Earth, will be sucked out of the air across the country.

The United Kingdom is going to try something new to beat the ill effects of climate change. Carbon dioxide, one of the key heating agents on Earth, will be sucked out of the air across the country. Scientists intend to use trees, rock chips, charcoal and peat in the groundbreaking trials which could change mitigation modules across the world. The project was funded by UK Research and Innovation and intends to cover gaps caused by previous failures in limiting CO2 emissions. The goal is to reach net zero levels by 2050 in a bid to halt climate change. This is one of the largest trials of its kind in the world and will look at ways to do this effectively across 100 hectares (247 acres) of land. As part of this, peatlands that have degraded will be re-wetted and replanted in the Pennines and west Wales, The Guardian reported. In addition, CO2 absorbing rock chips will be tested across farms in mid-Wakes, Devon, and Hertfordshire. Biochar, a special type of charcoal will be put to use as well. It will be buried at multiple sewage disposal sites, former mining sites as well as railway embankments. In addition, the trials will attempt to ascertain ways to use trees to capture carbon across the United Kingdom. Also read: Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires' During the final trial, scientists will study the potential of energy crops like miscanthus and willow at a commercial scale for the first time. Professor Cameron Hepburn, from the University of Oxford who is leading the trials told The Guardian that the trials are “pretty much world leading”. Hepburn added how nobody wanted to suck out CO2 from the world’s atmosphere but “that’s where we are”, claiming that climate action has been delayed for too long. Even then, he emphasised how CO2 removal is not an effective substitute to cutting down emissions and that cutting down on fossil fuel burning remains key to tackling climate change. Also read: Climate change is killing world's oldest animal cave painting in Sulawesi

UK will 'suck out' carbon dioxide from air to fight climate change

The finance ministry said on Sunday that India challenged an international arbitration tribunal asking it to refund $ 1.2 billion to UK's Cairn Energy plc on grounds, as it never agreed to arbitrate over a "national tax dispute".

World Business Watch: India challenges international arbitration tribunal amidst dispute with Cairn

Britain's main opposition Labour Party said it would push for a vote in parliament on Monday over the support of United States' plans to introduce a global minimum corporation tax rate.

World Business Watch: UK's opposition pushes for vote in support of US minimum corporation tax plan

The UK has adopted digital visa system from the US to keep a check on the actual number of people entering and leaving the country for the first time.

Digital visa&nbsp;has been unveiled for the people who will be entering the UK without a visa or immigration status. The visitors will now have to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). This will help determine the eligibility of the visitors, UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel explained.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/unprecedented-india-uk-mobility-pact-overcomes-past-barriers-priti-patel-384327">Unprecedented India-UK mobility pact overcomes past barriers: Priti Patel</a>

"Our new fully digital border will provide the ability to count people in and out of the country, giving us control over who comes to the UK," Patel said.

This digital visa has been initiated after the Boris Johnson-led government was criticised for miscalculating the number of European citizens staying in the UK. The Home Office had estimated that nearly three million people from the EU lived in the UK and will be applying to the EU settlement scheme.

However, by April end, more than 5.4 million people had already applied for visa under the scheme and nearly 4.9 million had already been given the nod.

The government estimates nearly 144.7 million passengers arrived in the UK till June 2019, of which nearly 40 million had migrated from the European economic area and Switzerland.

The UK has adopted digital visa system from the US to keep a check on the actual number of people entering and leaving the country for the first time. Digital visa has been unveiled for the people who will be entering the UK without a visa or immigration status.

The UK has adopted digital visa system from the US to keep a check on the actual number of people entering and leaving the country for the first time. Digital visa has been unveiled for the people who will be entering the UK without a visa or immigration status. The visitors will now have to apply for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA). This will help determine the eligibility of the visitors, UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel explained. Also read | Unprecedented India-UK mobility pact overcomes past barriers: Priti Patel "Our new fully digital border will provide the ability to count people in and out of the country, giving us control over who comes to the UK," Patel said. This digital visa has been initiated after the Boris Johnson-led government was criticised for miscalculating the number of European citizens staying in the UK. The Home Office had estimated that nearly three million people from the EU lived in the UK and will be applying to the EU settlement scheme. However, by April end, more than 5.4 million people had already applied for visa under the scheme and nearly 4.9 million had already been given the nod. The government estimates nearly 144.7 million passengers arrived in the UK till June 2019, of which nearly 40 million had migrated from the European economic area and Switzerland.

UK set to introduce 'digital visa' for travellers arriving in country

France's European affairs minister warned Britain not to play games with special post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland, as fears rise of a summer of violence in the province.

Clement Beaune urged London to be "responsible" over the so-called "protocol" for Northern Ireland, which kept it in the EU single market and customs union despite the UK's departure from the bloc.

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"We cannot accept that there is political game with such a sensitive issue," Beaune said in an interview with a small group of media including AFP in The Hague on Saturday after talks with the Dutch foreign minister.

"This is a central piece of European stability, you cannot play with this. We will never play with that. But we cannot accept that the protocol is taken lightly by any part," he added.

"So I'm just saying, and we are discussing it of course with the British side, do not play with the protocol."

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-withdraws-patrol-boats-from-jersey-after-french-brexit-row-383442/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Tensions have been mounting in Northern Ireland over the so-called "protocol" that came into effect at the start of 2021, with the worst rioting in years breaking out in April and First Minister Arlene Foster announcing her resignation.

Northern Ireland is still deeply divided between pro-UK mainly Protestant unionists and pro-Ireland largely Catholic nationalists, despite a 1998 peace deal that ended three decades of violence over British rule.

Unionists believe the protocol threatens Northern Ireland's status in the UK and the prospect of union with neighbouring Ireland.

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British Brexit minister David Frost on Monday urged the EU to compromise over the protocol before Northern Ireland enters a tense summer of events marking the Protestant ascendancy over Catholics.

Fears have grown that tensions could soar again around July 12, when pro-UK unionists annually commemorate events in the late 17th century that entrenched Protestant rule over the northern part of Catholic Ireland.

But Beaune, who met Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney in Dublin earlier this week along with France' foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, said London should not try to argue in favour of scrapping the protocol.&nbsp;

"The protocol is not a problem. The protocol is the solution to border problems that were created by Brexit," Beaune said.

Ireland's Coveney on Thursday warned Britain that unilaterally overriding the rules would be a "disaster".

France's European affairs minister warned Britain not to play games with special post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland, as fears rise of a summer of violence in the province.

France's European affairs minister warned Britain not to play games with special post-Brexit trading rules for Northern Ireland, as fears rise of a summer of violence in the province. Clement Beaune urged London to be "responsible" over the so-called "protocol" for Northern Ireland, which kept it in the EU single market and customs union despite the UK's departure from the bloc. Also Read | EU mulls 'next steps' as UK responds to Brexit lawsuit "We cannot accept that there is political game with such a sensitive issue," Beaune said in an interview with a small group of media including AFP in The Hague on Saturday after talks with the Dutch foreign minister. "This is a central piece of European stability, you cannot play with this. We will never play with that. But we cannot accept that the protocol is taken lightly by any part," he added. "So I'm just saying, and we are discussing it of course with the British side, do not play with the protocol." Tensions have been mounting in Northern Ireland over the so-called "protocol" that came into effect at the start of 2021, with the worst rioting in years breaking out in April and First Minister Arlene Foster announcing her resignation. Northern Ireland is still deeply divided between pro-UK mainly Protestant unionists and pro-Ireland largely Catholic nationalists, despite a 1998 peace deal that ended three decades of violence over British rule. Unionists believe the protocol threatens Northern Ireland's status in the UK and the prospect of union with neighbouring Ireland. Also Read | Post-Brexit roadmap: Key takeaways from UK-India trade deal British Brexit minister David Frost on Monday urged the EU to compromise over the protocol before Northern Ireland enters a tense summer of events marking the Protestant ascendancy over Catholics. Fears have grown that tensions could soar again around July 12, when pro-UK unionists annually commemorate events in the late 17th century that entrenched Protestant rule over the northern part of Catholic Ireland. But Beaune, who met Ireland's foreign minister Simon Coveney in Dublin earlier this week along with France' foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, said London should not try to argue in favour of scrapping the protocol. "The protocol is not a problem. The protocol is the solution to border problems that were created by Brexit," Beaune said. Ireland's Coveney on Thursday warned Britain that unilaterally overriding the rules would be a "disaster".

France warns UK not to 'play' with N.Ireland Brexit deal

Thousands of demonstrators marched through London and other British cities on Saturday (May 22) to show support for Palestine. The demonstrators protested Israeli air strikes on Gaza during the conflict that raged for 11 days.

The protesters demanded sanctions on Israel during a&nbsp;march in London. Some of them were draped in Palestinian flags and lit red and green flares. Some others carried banners that said "Free Palestine", "Stop bombing Gaza" and "Sanctions on Israel".

A ceasefire on Friday (May 21), mediated by Egypt, ended 11 days of hostilities, during which the Israeli military pounded Gaza with air strikes which it said were a response to rockets fired at Israel by Palestinian militants.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-pro-palestinian-protests-merkel-warns-on-anti-semitism-386747">Ahead of pro-Palestinian protests, Merkel warns on anti-Semitism</a>

Gaza medical officials said 248 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave, and aid officials have expressed concern about the humanitarian situation there.

Health officials said 13 people were killed in Israel in the hostilities, during which the Israeli military said Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups fired around 4,350 rockets, many of which did not reach Israel or were intercepted.

(With inputs from agencies)

Thousands of demonstrators marched through London and other British cities on Saturday (May 22) to show support for Palestine. The demonstrators protested Israeli air strikes on Gaza during the conflict that raged for 11 days.

Thousands of demonstrators marched through London and other British cities on Saturday (May 22) to show support for Palestine. The demonstrators protested Israeli air strikes on Gaza during the conflict that raged for 11 days. The protesters demanded sanctions on Israel during a march in London. Some of them were draped in Palestinian flags and lit red and green flares. Some others carried banners that said "Free Palestine", "Stop bombing Gaza" and "Sanctions on Israel". A ceasefire on Friday (May 21), mediated by Egypt, ended 11 days of hostilities, during which the Israeli military pounded Gaza with air strikes which it said were a response to rockets fired at Israel by Palestinian militants. Also Read | Ahead of pro-Palestinian protests, Merkel warns on anti-Semitism Gaza medical officials said 248 people were killed in the Palestinian enclave, and aid officials have expressed concern about the humanitarian situation there. Health officials said 13 people were killed in Israel in the hostilities, during which the Israeli military said Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other militant groups fired around 4,350 rockets, many of which did not reach Israel or were intercepted. (With inputs from agencies)

Thousands march in Britain to show support for Palestine

Animal rights protesters on Saturday blockaded four British distribution centres for fast-food chain McDonald's, demanding they become fully plant-based by 2025.

The Animal Rebellion group said they intended to block the distribution sites in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Greater Manchester -- all in England -- for at least 24 hours.

"We are in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency and we are still consuming huge quantities of meat on a scale that is just not sustainable for our planet," a protester in Coventry said in a video posted on Twitter.

McDonald's confirmed that its distribution centres were currently facing disruption.&nbsp;

"We are assessing the impact on deliveries to our restaurants and to menu items. We apologise to our customers for any disappointment caused," said a spokesperson.

Coventry police said they "recognise the right to a peaceful protest, however there are safety concerns as the sole entrance and exit point to the distribution site has been blocked and this is causing significant disruption to businesses, which we are taking seriously."

Animal rights protesters on Saturday blockaded four British distribution centres for fast-food chain McDonald's, demanding they become fully plant-based by 2025.

Animal rights protesters on Saturday blockaded four British distribution centres for fast-food chain McDonald's, demanding they become fully plant-based by 2025. The Animal Rebellion group said they intended to block the distribution sites in Hemel Hempstead, Basingstoke, Coventry and Greater Manchester -- all in England -- for at least 24 hours. "We are in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency and we are still consuming huge quantities of meat on a scale that is just not sustainable for our planet," a protester in Coventry said in a video posted on Twitter. McDonald's confirmed that its distribution centres were currently facing disruption. "We are assessing the impact on deliveries to our restaurants and to menu items. We apologise to our customers for any disappointment caused," said a spokesperson. Coventry police said they "recognise the right to a peaceful protest, however there are safety concerns as the sole entrance and exit point to the distribution site has been blocked and this is causing significant disruption to businesses, which we are taking seriously."

Animal rights group blocks UK McDonald's sites

As the UK locals enjoy the unlocking of the economy, cases of a specific variant of coronavirus have doubled this week.

Experts have reported an increase of 3,424 cases of the B1.617.2 variant, also known as VOC-21APR-02, Public Health England reported.

Last week, the country had registered 1,313 cases and 520 the week before that. The rise in cases of this specific variant, which was first identified in India, has raised concerns in the UK.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-president-donald-trump-sued-for-referring-to-covid-19-as-china-virus-386663" hreflang="en">Former US President Donald Trump sued for referring to COVID-19 as 'China virus'</a>

The experts in the UK are also inspecting a new mutation VUI-21MAY-01, which has infected nearly 50 people in the country, as of now.

"There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective," a PHE statement read.

While the country reopened its bars, restaurants, shops, cafes and other entertainment venues, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said he is “anxious” and worried about the increase of cases of this variant.

Experts and the government have urged the locals to not let their guards down, as the residents have now also been given permission to hug.

"As we start to get back to normal life, it is very important that we do not become complacent," Health Security Agency Chief Executive Officer Jenny Harries said. "All of us need to remain responsible and vigilant."

As the UK locals enjoy the unlocking of the economy, cases of a specific variant of coronavirus have doubled this week. Experts have reported an increase of 3,424 cases of the B1.

As the UK locals enjoy the unlocking of the economy, cases of a specific variant of coronavirus have doubled this week. Experts have reported an increase of 3,424 cases of the B1.617.2 variant, also known as VOC-21APR-02, Public Health England reported. Last week, the country had registered 1,313 cases and 520 the week before that. The rise in cases of this specific variant, which was first identified in India, has raised concerns in the UK. Also read | Former US President Donald Trump sued for referring to COVID-19 as 'China virus' The experts in the UK are also inspecting a new mutation VUI-21MAY-01, which has infected nearly 50 people in the country, as of now. "There is currently no evidence that this variant causes more severe disease or renders the vaccines currently deployed any less effective," a PHE statement read. While the country reopened its bars, restaurants, shops, cafes and other entertainment venues, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said he is “anxious” and worried about the increase of cases of this variant. Experts and the government have urged the locals to not let their guards down, as the residents have now also been given permission to hug. "As we start to get back to normal life, it is very important that we do not become complacent," Health Security Agency Chief Executive Officer Jenny Harries said. "All of us need to remain responsible and vigilant."

UK reports alarming increase in cases of covid variant, first found in India

With an aim to save the planet Earth for future generations, the world’s richest countries have decided to pull the plug on funding coal development projects overseas.

After two days of the G7 meeting of environment and energy ministers, hosted by the UK, all countries present in the meet have decided to end the financial support of coal development and have assured their commitment to limiting global heating to 1.5C.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astrophysicists-detect-gamma-rays-from-surprising-cosmic-sources-386599" hreflang="en">Astrophysicists detect gamma rays from surprising cosmic sources</a>

G7 members — namely the UK, US, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, and the EU — have come together to make sure there is no more funding for any such projects that can harm the environment for future generations.

Japan, however, has raised concerns about this change. The Japanese government believes if the country does not invest money in coal development, China will step in to build less-efficient and more harmful coal-fired power plants, which will be more harmful, Japan claims.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/meet-climate-changes-latest-offering-to-earth-zombie-wildfires-386102" hreflang="en">Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires'</a>

"I will strongly recommend to the president that this is a policy that we should pursue … But I guarantee that we will be completely consistent with 1.5C. 1.5C governs the choices we have to make in the next 10 years. Any decision has to be within that framework," John Kerry, the US climate envoy said.

France has come out in support of the decision and hopes this will send out a message that coal is an energy 'of the past'.

"I am delighted that an agreement could be found regarding a key aspect of our G7 communique: the absolute end of new direct government support for international coal power generation. It gives a very strong signal to the world that coal is an energy of the past and has no place in our future energy mix. It sets the stage for a radical transition towards clean energy," Barbara Pompili, France’s environment minister said.

With an aim to save the planet Earth for future generations, the world’s richest countries have decided to pull the plug on funding coal development projects overseas.

With an aim to save the planet Earth for future generations, the world’s richest countries have decided to pull the plug on funding coal development projects overseas. After two days of the G7 meeting of environment and energy ministers, hosted by the UK, all countries present in the meet have decided to end the financial support of coal development and have assured their commitment to limiting global heating to 1.5C. Also read | Astrophysicists detect gamma rays from surprising cosmic sources G7 members — namely the UK, US, France, Canada, Italy, Germany, and the EU — have come together to make sure there is no more funding for any such projects that can harm the environment for future generations. Japan, however, has raised concerns about this change. The Japanese government believes if the country does not invest money in coal development, China will step in to build less-efficient and more harmful coal-fired power plants, which will be more harmful, Japan claims. Also read | Meet climate change's latest offering to Earth - 'Zombie wildfires' "I will strongly recommend to the president that this is a policy that we should pursue … But I guarantee that we will be completely consistent with 1.5C. 1.5C governs the choices we have to make in the next 10 years. Any decision has to be within that framework," John Kerry, the US climate envoy said. France has come out in support of the decision and hopes this will send out a message that coal is an energy 'of the past'. "I am delighted that an agreement could be found regarding a key aspect of our G7 communique: the absolute end of new direct government support for international coal power generation. It gives a very strong signal to the world that coal is an energy of the past and has no place in our future energy mix. It sets the stage for a radical transition towards clean energy," Barbara Pompili, France’s environment minister said.

Rich countries halt funding for coal production overseas

Turkey has ban imports of plastic waste, days after an investigation revealed UK household plastics had been dumped illegally by the roadside and in fields in the country.

Turkey bans most plastic imports as EU trash found dumped illegally by the roadside

While some Americans are currently confused and rejoicing about the relaxing of masks mandates for vaccinated adults others are still confused about the guidelines from the CDC. CDC has said that fully vaccinated people can avoid masks at most places.

CDC: Fully vaccinated people can avoid masks at most places

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russians would knock their teeth out of those who attack the country or eye its vast territory.

Russian Prez Putin warns to 'knock out teeth' of adversaries

U.K. has proposed a 1% pay hike for NHS workers. This is the Boris Johnson govt's pitiful token of appreciation for the frontline workers. The ICU nurse who cared for Johnson has quit in protest. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: NHS pay hike: Nurse who cared for Boris Johnson quits

Queen Elizabeth II is soon going to be welcoming her 12th great grandchild. The Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Beatrice is expecting her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The Princess is due in autumn this year.&nbsp; 
 
The statement said, "Both families are delighted with the news," Beatrice, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, married property developer Mapello Mozzi in July 2020, at a small ceremony constrained by coronavirus restrictions. She is ninth in line to the British throne. 
 
Beatrice's younger sister Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child, a son named August, in February. 
The queen has 10 great-grandchildren, with another second child for Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of York due in the summer.&nbsp;

Queen Elizabeth II is soon going to be welcoming her 12th great grandchild. The Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Beatrice is expecting her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

Queen Elizabeth II is soon going to be welcoming her 12th great grandchild. The Buckingham Palace has announced that Princess Beatrice is expecting her first child with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The Princess is due in autumn this year. The statement said, "Both families are delighted with the news," Beatrice, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, married property developer Mapello Mozzi in July 2020, at a small ceremony constrained by coronavirus restrictions. She is ninth in line to the British throne. Beatrice's younger sister Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank welcomed their first child, a son named August, in February. The queen has 10 great-grandchildren, with another second child for Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of York due in the summer.

UK royals: Queen's granddaughter Princess Beatrice expecting her first child 

A consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday moved a step closer in their attempt to recover debt from loans paid out to Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines after the High Court in London upheld an application to amend their bankruptcy petition, in favour of waiving their security over the businessman's assets in India.&nbsp;

Chief Insolvencies and Companies Court (ICC) Judge Michael Briggs handed down his judgment in favour of the banks to declare there is no public policy that prevents a waiver of security rights, as argued by Mallya's lawyers.&nbsp;

At a virtual hearing, July 26 was set as the date for final arguments for and against granting a bankruptcy order against Mallya after the banks accused him of trying to kick matters into the long grass and called on the bankruptcy petition to be brought to its inevitable end.&nbsp;

“I order that permission be given to amend the petition to read as follows: The Petitioners (banks) having the right to enforce any security held are willing, in the event of a bankruptcy order being made, to give up any such security for the benefit of all the bankrupt's creditors,” Justice Briggs' judgment reads.&nbsp;

"There is nothing in the statutory provisions that prevent the Petitioners from giving up security," he notes.&nbsp;

Mallya's barrister, Philip Marshall, had referenced witness statements of retired Indian judges in previous hearings to reiterate that there is public interest under Indian law by virtue of the banks being nationalised.&nbsp;

However, Justice Briggs found no impediment to the creditors relinquishing their security under Indian law because of the engagement of a principle concerning public interest and favoured the submissions made by retired Indian Supreme Court judge Gopala Gowda at a hearing in December 2020 in this regard.&nbsp;

“In my judgment the simple stance taken by Justice Gowda that Section 47 PIA 1920 is evidence of the ability of a secured creditor to relinquish the creditor's security is to be preferred," the ruling notes.&nbsp;

The Indian banks, represented by the law firm TLT LLP and barrister Marcia Shekerdemian, were also granted costs in totality for the petition hearings, as the ‘overall successful' party in the case.&nbsp;

"Dr Mallya should have been extradited by now. He was refused permission to go to the Supreme Court in May last year," Shekerdemian pointed out, in reference to one of Mallya's defence planks that the cases against him are 'politically motivated'.&nbsp;

The 65-year-old businessman remains on bail in the UK while a 'confidential' legal matter, believed to be related to an asylum application, is resolved in connection with the unrelated extradition proceedings. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday moved a step closer in their attempt to recover debt from loans paid out to Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines after the High Court in London upheld an application to amend their bankruptcy petition, in favour of waiving their security over the businessman's assets in India.

A consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday moved a step closer in their attempt to recover debt from loans paid out to Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines after the High Court in London upheld an application to amend their bankruptcy petition, in favour of waiving their security over the businessman's assets in India. Chief Insolvencies and Companies Court (ICC) Judge Michael Briggs handed down his judgment in favour of the banks to declare there is no public policy that prevents a waiver of security rights, as argued by Mallya's lawyers. At a virtual hearing, July 26 was set as the date for final arguments for and against granting a bankruptcy order against Mallya after the banks accused him of trying to kick matters into the long grass and called on the bankruptcy petition to be brought to its inevitable end. “I order that permission be given to amend the petition to read as follows: The Petitioners (banks) having the right to enforce any security held are willing, in the event of a bankruptcy order being made, to give up any such security for the benefit of all the bankrupt's creditors,” Justice Briggs' judgment reads. "There is nothing in the statutory provisions that prevent the Petitioners from giving up security," he notes. Mallya's barrister, Philip Marshall, had referenced witness statements of retired Indian judges in previous hearings to reiterate that there is public interest under Indian law by virtue of the banks being nationalised. However, Justice Briggs found no impediment to the creditors relinquishing their security under Indian law because of the engagement of a principle concerning public interest and favoured the submissions made by retired Indian Supreme Court judge Gopala Gowda at a hearing in December 2020 in this regard. “In my judgment the simple stance taken by Justice Gowda that Section 47 PIA 1920 is evidence of the ability of a secured creditor to relinquish the creditor's security is to be preferred," the ruling notes. The Indian banks, represented by the law firm TLT LLP and barrister Marcia Shekerdemian, were also granted costs in totality for the petition hearings, as the ‘overall successful' party in the case. "Dr Mallya should have been extradited by now. He was refused permission to go to the Supreme Court in May last year," Shekerdemian pointed out, in reference to one of Mallya's defence planks that the cases against him are 'politically motivated'. The 65-year-old businessman remains on bail in the UK while a 'confidential' legal matter, believed to be related to an asylum application, is resolved in connection with the unrelated extradition proceedings. (With inputs from agencies)

Vijay Mallya loses bankruptcy petition amendment High Court battle in UK 

Friends will hug, pints will be pulled and swathes of the British economy will reopen on Monday, giving 65 million people a measure of freedom after the gloom of a four-month COVID-19 lockdown.&nbsp;

Most of the British will be free once again to hug, albeit cautiously, drink a pint in their pub, sit down to an indoor meal or visit the cinema after a series of lockdowns that imposed the strictest restrictions in peacetime history.&nbsp;

The biggest public health crisis in a century was accompanied by a drastic extension of state power; during England's lockdowns police broke up parties and protests alike, shut down religious services and handed out fines of up to 10,000 pounds ($14,000) to youngsters for partying.&nbsp;

As freedom beckons once more, there is excitement. &nbsp;

"I shall be hugging literally everyone I can get my hands on," British actress Joanna Lumley told The Telegraph newspaper. "I shall snatch babies from their mothers, and lean over zimmer frames." &nbsp;

"I shall hug girls at the till, the picture framer, and lads playing footie in the park. Much later obviously I shall be hugging police personnel as I am charged at the station. Hugger-mugger, that’s me."&nbsp;

Beside the euphoria, though, there is also anxiety.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who before he imposed three national lockdowns had railed against the 'nanny' tendencies of the British state, advised people to cuddle cautiously and served notice that the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India meant that the final UK reopening in June could be delayed.&nbsp;

"Together, we have reached another milestone in our roadmap out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution," Johnson said in a statement.&nbsp;

There is growing concern about variant B.1.617.2 which British scientific advisers say will become the dominant variant in the United Kingdom and which is more transmissible than B.1.1.7 (the variant first identified in Kent, England).&nbsp;

Broadly, from Monday, in England gatherings of up to 30 people will be allowed outdoors, two families will be allowed to meet indoors; cafes, bars and restaurants will reopen for indoor service; care home residents will be allowed to have five visitors; and face coverings will no longer be compulsory in schools. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Friends will hug, pints will be pulled and swathes of the British economy will reopen on Monday, giving 65 million people a measure of freedom after the gloom of a four-month COVID-19 lockdown.

Friends will hug, pints will be pulled and swathes of the British economy will reopen on Monday, giving 65 million people a measure of freedom after the gloom of a four-month COVID-19 lockdown. Most of the British will be free once again to hug, albeit cautiously, drink a pint in their pub, sit down to an indoor meal or visit the cinema after a series of lockdowns that imposed the strictest restrictions in peacetime history. The biggest public health crisis in a century was accompanied by a drastic extension of state power; during England's lockdowns police broke up parties and protests alike, shut down religious services and handed out fines of up to 10,000 pounds ($14,000) to youngsters for partying. As freedom beckons once more, there is excitement. "I shall be hugging literally everyone I can get my hands on," British actress Joanna Lumley told The Telegraph newspaper. "I shall snatch babies from their mothers, and lean over zimmer frames." "I shall hug girls at the till, the picture framer, and lads playing footie in the park. Much later obviously I shall be hugging police personnel as I am charged at the station. Hugger-mugger, that’s me." Beside the euphoria, though, there is also anxiety. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who before he imposed three national lockdowns had railed against the 'nanny' tendencies of the British state, advised people to cuddle cautiously and served notice that the spread of the coronavirus variant first identified in India meant that the final UK reopening in June could be delayed. "Together, we have reached another milestone in our roadmap out of lockdown, but we must take this next step with a heavy dose of caution," Johnson said in a statement. There is growing concern about variant B.1.617.2 which British scientific advisers say will become the dominant variant in the United Kingdom and which is more transmissible than B.1.1.7 (the variant first identified in Kent, England). Broadly, from Monday, in England gatherings of up to 30 people will be allowed outdoors, two families will be allowed to meet indoors; cafes, bars and restaurants will reopen for indoor service; care home residents will be allowed to have five visitors; and face coverings will no longer be compulsory in schools. (With inputs from agencies)

Free at last to hug and party: UK reopens for business 

The United Kingdom took a step forward towards some form of normalcy as COVID-19 restrictions have been eased across the country. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Britons to to remain cautious as the UK continues to monitor rapidly rising cases of the B1.617.2 variant of COVID-19 first identified in India.

COVID-19 restrictions eased in UK, PM Johnson urges Britons to remain cautious

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