Millions of UK children and teenagers headed back to school on Monday for the first time after two months of home learning because of a strict national lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19. The government has imposed strict COVID guidelines in schools for kids.

Millions of UK children back in class rooms, strict COVID guidelines imposed

The British Monarchy is facing its biggest crisis. The U.K's economy is in a mess, its healthcare is on a ventilator. But guess what British Parliamentarians are concerned about? India. WION's Palki Sharma asks-When will the U.K. get over its colonial hangover?

Gravitas: British parliament debates on Indian farmers

A British-Australian academic has claimed Iran tried to recruit her as a spy in exchange for her freedom when she was imprisoned in the country.

Middle East scholar Kylie Moore-Gilbert was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in jail for espionage, an allegation she has denied. She was arrested by the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after attending an academic conference in the holy city of Qom in central Iran.

In her first media interview since returning to Australia last November, she said&nbsp;Iranian officials asked her "many times" to&nbsp;work as a spy.

"I knew that the reason that they didn't engage in any meaningful negotiations with the Australians was because they wanted to recruit me. They wanted me (to work) for them as a spy," she told Sky News Australia on Tuesday.

Moore-Gilbert also said she was beaten during her detention and suffered "psychological torture" from spending seven months in solitary confinement. She said at times she "felt broken" by the experience of prison and had suicidal thoughts.

"It is so damaging. I would say I felt physical pain from the psychological trauma I had in that room," she said.

"It is a two-by-two metre box -- there is no toilet, there is no television, there is nothing whatsoever."

Moore-Gilbert also criticised the Australian government's approach to her case, which involved keeping it quiet from the media while negotiating behind the scenes for her release.

"I think had my ordeal been made public, there's no way I would have got 10 years," she said.

She was released reportedly in a swap for three Iranians linked to a botched plot to kill Israeli officials in Bangkok.

Moore-Gilbert added that "much greater attention" was paid to her health and wellbeing once her detention made headlines.

A British-Australian academic has claimed Iran tried to recruit her as a spy in exchange for her freedom when she was imprisoned in the country. Middle East scholar Kylie Moore-Gilbert was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in jail for espionage, an allegation she has denied.

A British-Australian academic has claimed Iran tried to recruit her as a spy in exchange for her freedom when she was imprisoned in the country. Middle East scholar Kylie Moore-Gilbert was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years in jail for espionage, an allegation she has denied. She was arrested by the hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after attending an academic conference in the holy city of Qom in central Iran. In her first media interview since returning to Australia last November, she said Iranian officials asked her "many times" to work as a spy. "I knew that the reason that they didn't engage in any meaningful negotiations with the Australians was because they wanted to recruit me. They wanted me (to work) for them as a spy," she told Sky News Australia on Tuesday. Moore-Gilbert also said she was beaten during her detention and suffered "psychological torture" from spending seven months in solitary confinement. She said at times she "felt broken" by the experience of prison and had suicidal thoughts. "It is so damaging. I would say I felt physical pain from the psychological trauma I had in that room," she said. "It is a two-by-two metre box -- there is no toilet, there is no television, there is nothing whatsoever." Moore-Gilbert also criticised the Australian government's approach to her case, which involved keeping it quiet from the media while negotiating behind the scenes for her release. "I think had my ordeal been made public, there's no way I would have got 10 years," she said. She was released reportedly in a swap for three Iranians linked to a botched plot to kill Israeli officials in Bangkok. Moore-Gilbert added that "much greater attention" was paid to her health and wellbeing once her detention made headlines.

British-Australian academic says Iran tried to recruit her as spy

A diplomatic row has broken out after the EU's top official claimed the UK had imposed a ban on the export of Covid vaccines.

UK, EU at loggerheads over Covid vaccine

UK rejects 'false' vaccine export ban claim by EU

UK's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty said that "big blocks of risk are being taken" as the country's coronavirus lockdown is being eased.

COVID-19: UK's CMO urges caution over lockdown easing

On March 9, 1911, International Women’s Day was honoured for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. Today Medical workers have been fighting on the front lines risking their own lives to save others. Women healthcare personnels in UK share their life-changing stories that will definitely give you goosebumps.

Britain's healthcare workers recount COVID horror

Experts say that over half of snacks that are sold as healthy are in fact high in fat, salt&nbsp;and sugar.

The assessment was undertaken by the group Action on Salt&nbsp;in the United Kingdom, which found that 119 snacks that include dried/roasted pulses, processed pulse-based snacks, chickpea chips actually turned out to be saltier than seawater.

Even though such foods are lower in fat, saturated fat, and calories on average, they are high in fibre. At least 43 per cent of such products had high levels of salt.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/nearly-a-fifth-of-all-food-reaching-consumers-wasted-un-368034" hreflang="en">Nearly a fifth of all food reaching consumers wasted: UN</a> 
 
Consuming salt in excessive quantities has caused thousands of cases of heart disease, cancer, and stroke.

Action on Salt's campaign manager - Sonia Pombo told The Guardian newspaper that while people should be eating more beans and pulses, there may be better ways of achieving this. The survey has brought to light the unnecessary amounts of salt that is found in healthy snacks.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/entertainment/lifestyle/news-package-labels-ingredient-lists-of-toddler-food-hard-to-navigate-study-362148" hreflang="en">Package labels, ingredient lists of toddler food hard to navigate: Study</a>

According to Action on Salt, the majority of the products in question were not carrying colour-coded information in terms of nutrition on the packaging, as is mandated by the government. 
 
The body added that it remains unclear whether snacks that were surveyed would fall within the government's plans to limit the promotion of unhealthy foods. It is not clear whether this would be limited to food items that fall under ongoing sugar and calorie reduction programmes.

Experts say that over half of snacks that are sold as healthy are in fact high in fat, salt and sugar. The assessment was undertaken by the group Action on Salt in the United Kingdom, which found that 119 snacks that include dried/roasted pulses, processed pulse-based snacks, chickpea chips actually turned out to be saltier than seawater.

Experts say that over half of snacks that are sold as healthy are in fact high in fat, salt and sugar. The assessment was undertaken by the group Action on Salt in the United Kingdom, which found that 119 snacks that include dried/roasted pulses, processed pulse-based snacks, chickpea chips actually turned out to be saltier than seawater. Even though such foods are lower in fat, saturated fat, and calories on average, they are high in fibre. At least 43 per cent of such products had high levels of salt. Also read: Nearly a fifth of all food reaching consumers wasted: UN Consuming salt in excessive quantities has caused thousands of cases of heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Action on Salt's campaign manager - Sonia Pombo told The Guardian newspaper that while people should be eating more beans and pulses, there may be better ways of achieving this. The survey has brought to light the unnecessary amounts of salt that is found in healthy snacks. Also read: Package labels, ingredient lists of toddler food hard to navigate: Study According to Action on Salt, the majority of the products in question were not carrying colour-coded information in terms of nutrition on the packaging, as is mandated by the government. The body added that it remains unclear whether snacks that were surveyed would fall within the government's plans to limit the promotion of unhealthy foods. It is not clear whether this would be limited to food items that fall under ongoing sugar and calorie reduction programmes.

More than half of snacks marketed as 'healthy' are actually very unhealthy

Britain is in its worst shape since World War 2. This time, the enemy at the gates is invisible. The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow in the UK as there have been more than four million cases and 124,000 deaths.&nbsp;

The UK is the worst-affected country in Europe. Hundreds are still dying from the virus every day and just as the vaccines emerged so did a new variant, a more potent and more contagious mutation. Britain's response was more lockdowns but that came at a cost. The country is going through its worst economic slump in three centuries. Jobs are disappearing, small businesses have been decimated. It will take at least two years before the economy reaches pre-pandemic levels and we're not done listing Britain's economic woes just yet.&nbsp;

The government has been on a borrowing spree since last year. The budget deficit is at its highest since World War 2. What Britain needs right now is some Churchillian steel to channel the guts of the greatest generation. The generation that braved the barrage of Nazi bombers 70 years back, instead they're busy talking about an interview.&nbsp;

At the outset, let's make one thing clear that we are not trivialising Meghan Markle's struggles, her allegations are serious. The palace must be held to account for its actions but does a family squabble qualify as public interest?&nbsp;

At what point does fascination become obsession? It's an unnecessary distraction even for the government. The prime minister is having to field questions about it. Even the White House has released a statement and we are in the middle of the world's largest vaccination drive. The pandemic is the only thing world leaders should be focusing on but in Britain, this has always been the case, the daily life is shaped by royalty. Britons are urged to speak the queen's English. They gather under the flag and sing 'God Save the Queen'. That's the British national anthem. They line the streets and go gaga over royal weddings, the same ones that they the taxpayers end up paying for.&nbsp;

The monarchy is embedded in every Briton's DNA, but why?&nbsp;

After all, the family doesn't do much other than wave and smile a lot. The royals have managed to convince the country that it needs them and that Britain would disintegrate without a king or queen. There's a common saying among royalists, politicians may come and go but the family remains. Humans love a sense of continuity, the idea of something that exists for posterity.&nbsp;

The monarchy preys on this. It also explains all the pomp and show. Hundreds of years back, the British monarch was considered god's representative on earth.&nbsp;

People aren't naive enough to believe that today but the divine narrative remains. All the traditions, the coronation with holy oils. It's all part of the larger-than-life image. Royalists believe the monarch is endowed with god's mandate to rule. It's an unequal and unjust mandate. The family has its reasons for defending the monarchy but why do the people stick with it?&nbsp;

The queen serves as a reminder of Britain's golden days, when it ruled the seas and had colonies in every continent. In other words, the monarchy is Britain's biggest colonial hangover. Many countries were ruled by monarchies in the middle ages but as British historian Robert Lacey says they were sensible and clever enough to grow out of them.&nbsp;

Britain is in its worst shape since World War 2. This time, the enemy at the gates is invisible. The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow in the UK as there have been more than four million cases and 124,000 deaths.

Britain is in its worst shape since World War 2. This time, the enemy at the gates is invisible. The coronavirus pandemic continues to grow in the UK as there have been more than four million cases and 124,000 deaths. The UK is the worst-affected country in Europe. Hundreds are still dying from the virus every day and just as the vaccines emerged so did a new variant, a more potent and more contagious mutation. Britain's response was more lockdowns but that came at a cost. The country is going through its worst economic slump in three centuries. Jobs are disappearing, small businesses have been decimated. It will take at least two years before the economy reaches pre-pandemic levels and we're not done listing Britain's economic woes just yet. The government has been on a borrowing spree since last year. The budget deficit is at its highest since World War 2. What Britain needs right now is some Churchillian steel to channel the guts of the greatest generation. The generation that braved the barrage of Nazi bombers 70 years back, instead they're busy talking about an interview. At the outset, let's make one thing clear that we are not trivialising Meghan Markle's struggles, her allegations are serious. The palace must be held to account for its actions but does a family squabble qualify as public interest? At what point does fascination become obsession? It's an unnecessary distraction even for the government. The prime minister is having to field questions about it. Even the White House has released a statement and we are in the middle of the world's largest vaccination drive. The pandemic is the only thing world leaders should be focusing on but in Britain, this has always been the case, the daily life is shaped by royalty. Britons are urged to speak the queen's English. They gather under the flag and sing 'God Save the Queen'. That's the British national anthem. They line the streets and go gaga over royal weddings, the same ones that they the taxpayers end up paying for. The monarchy is embedded in every Briton's DNA, but why? After all, the family doesn't do much other than wave and smile a lot. The royals have managed to convince the country that it needs them and that Britain would disintegrate without a king or queen. There's a common saying among royalists, politicians may come and go but the family remains. Humans love a sense of continuity, the idea of something that exists for posterity. The monarchy preys on this. It also explains all the pomp and show. Hundreds of years back, the British monarch was considered god's representative on earth. People aren't naive enough to believe that today but the divine narrative remains. All the traditions, the coronation with holy oils. It's all part of the larger-than-life image. Royalists believe the monarch is endowed with god's mandate to rule. It's an unequal and unjust mandate. The family has its reasons for defending the monarchy but why do the people stick with it? The queen serves as a reminder of Britain's golden days, when it ruled the seas and had colonies in every continent. In other words, the monarchy is Britain's biggest colonial hangover. Many countries were ruled by monarchies in the middle ages but as British historian Robert Lacey says they were sensible and clever enough to grow out of them.

After coronavirus, Britain faces royal affair challenge 

Fast-food chain Burger King's United Kingdom division sparked an outcry on Monday as critics accused the brand of using a sexist trope as a clickbait.&nbsp;

Burger King sparked an uproar with a tweet that read, "Women belong in the kitchen" on International Women's Day.&nbsp;

According to The Washington Post, the Burger King Foundation, the company's United States-based non-profit arm published a full-page ad with similar language in Monday's print edition of the New York Times.&nbsp;

"Women belong in the kitchen" was bolded in large font that took up much of the ad's above-the-fold space.&nbsp;

"Fine dining kitchens, food truck kitchens, award-winning kitchens, casual dining kitchens, ghost kitchens, Burger King kitchens. If there's a professional kitchen, women belong there," the ad continued as quoted by The Post.&nbsp;

"But can you guess who's leading those kitchens these days? Exactly. Only 24% of chef positions in America are occupied by women. Want to talk head chefs? The number drops to fewer than 7 per cent," it added.&nbsp;

The Post further reported that the Burger King Foundation's Helping Equalize Restaurants (HER) scholarship will grant USD 25,000 apiece to two current female employees.&nbsp;

Employees must be employed by Burger King or a franchisee, have plans to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year culinary programme or university in the US during the 2022-23 academic year, have a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate financial need and substantial work experience, according to the foundation's website.&nbsp;

The foundation will establish similar programmes in the United Kingdom and Mexico, Burger King spokeswoman Adrianna Lauricella said in an email.&nbsp;

"We are committed to helping women break through a male-dominated culinary culture in the world's fine dining restaurants -- and sometimes that requires drawing attention to the problem we're trying to help fix," Lauricella said.&nbsp;

"Our tweet in the UK today was designed to draw attention to the fact that only a small percentage of chefs and head chefs are women. It was our mistake to not include the full explanation in our initial tweet and have adjusted our activity moving forward because we're sure that when people read the entirety of our commitment, they will share our belief in this important opportunity," the spokeswoman added.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Fast-food chain Burger King's United Kingdom division sparked an outcry on Monday as critics accused the brand of using a sexist trope as a clickbait. Burger King sparked an uproar with a tweet that read, "Women belong in the kitchen" on International Women's Day.

Fast-food chain Burger King's United Kingdom division sparked an outcry on Monday as critics accused the brand of using a sexist trope as a clickbait. Burger King sparked an uproar with a tweet that read, "Women belong in the kitchen" on International Women's Day. According to The Washington Post, the Burger King Foundation, the company's United States-based non-profit arm published a full-page ad with similar language in Monday's print edition of the New York Times. "Women belong in the kitchen" was bolded in large font that took up much of the ad's above-the-fold space. "Fine dining kitchens, food truck kitchens, award-winning kitchens, casual dining kitchens, ghost kitchens, Burger King kitchens. If there's a professional kitchen, women belong there," the ad continued as quoted by The Post. "But can you guess who's leading those kitchens these days? Exactly. Only 24% of chef positions in America are occupied by women. Want to talk head chefs? The number drops to fewer than 7 per cent," it added. The Post further reported that the Burger King Foundation's Helping Equalize Restaurants (HER) scholarship will grant USD 25,000 apiece to two current female employees. Employees must be employed by Burger King or a franchisee, have plans to enroll in an accredited two- or four-year culinary programme or university in the US during the 2022-23 academic year, have a high school diploma or GED, and demonstrate financial need and substantial work experience, according to the foundation's website. The foundation will establish similar programmes in the United Kingdom and Mexico, Burger King spokeswoman Adrianna Lauricella said in an email. "We are committed to helping women break through a male-dominated culinary culture in the world's fine dining restaurants -- and sometimes that requires drawing attention to the problem we're trying to help fix," Lauricella said. "Our tweet in the UK today was designed to draw attention to the fact that only a small percentage of chefs and head chefs are women. It was our mistake to not include the full explanation in our initial tweet and have adjusted our activity moving forward because we're sure that when people read the entirety of our commitment, they will share our belief in this important opportunity," the spokeswoman added. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Burger King under fire for 'Women belong in kitchen' tweet 

The High Commission of India in London has condemned a debate among some British lawmakers on an e-petition over the right of peaceful protests and freedom of the press in India amid the ongoing farmers' protest against three agricultural laws.

India's high commission slams debate on farmers' protests in UK Parliament

Millions of UK children and teenagers headed back to school on Monday for the first time after two months of home learning because of a strict national lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19.

After 2 months of home learning UK students back to school

The European Union should shake off its ill will and build a good relationship with Britain as sovereign equals, Britain's top EU adviser David Frost said promising to stand up for the country's interests.

World Business Watch: Shake off your ill will, Britain tells EU over Post-Brexit trade

The United Kingdom lost market share in the United States, Germany and China during the COVID-19 pandemic due to global trade chaos, Brexit and poor productivity, according to new research published.

World Business Watch: UK market share in US, Germany, China falls

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman jailed in Tehran has finally had her ankle tag removed. She was arrested at Tehran airport in 2016 and convicted of plotting the overthrow of the Iranian regime.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe released as ankle tag removed but faces new charges

According to reports, the United Kingdom could join the historic Quad including four of the world's biggest economic powerhouses, with a new groundbreaking defence and foreign relations.

Reports say UK could join the historic Quad in new alliance

Tehran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, removing her ankle tag after a five-year prison sentence.

She was jailed for plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment.

"She was pardoned by Iran's supreme leader last year, but spent the last year of her term under house arrest with electronic shackles tied to her feet. Now they're cast off," her lawyer and a British lawmaker said on Sunday.

A hearing for Zaghari-Ratcliffe's second case has been scheduled on March 8.

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at a Tehran airport in April 2016 as she prepared to head back to Britain with her daughter after a family visit.

She was later sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment. She was released from jail in March last year and put under house arrest in Tehran in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Iran's prisons, but her movements were restricted and she was barred from leaving the country.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab welcomed her release but said Iran's continued treatment of her remained "intolerable".

British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq said she had spoken to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and that they told her she had had her ankle tag removed, but has been summoned again to court.

"I have been in touch with Nazanin's family. Some news: 1) Thankfully her ankle tag has been removed. Her first trip will be to see her grandmother. 2) Less positive - she has been summoned once again to court next Sunday," Siddiq, who is the member of parliament for where Zaghari-Ratcliffe used to live, said on Twitter. 
&nbsp;

Tehran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, removing her ankle tag after a five-year prison sentence. She was jailed for plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment.

Tehran has released British-Iranian aid worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, removing her ankle tag after a five-year prison sentence. She was jailed for plotting to overthrow the clerical establishment. "She was pardoned by Iran's supreme leader last year, but spent the last year of her term under house arrest with electronic shackles tied to her feet. Now they're cast off," her lawyer and a British lawmaker said on Sunday. A hearing for Zaghari-Ratcliffe's second case has been scheduled on March 8. Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a project manager with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was arrested at a Tehran airport in April 2016 as she prepared to head back to Britain with her daughter after a family visit. She was later sentenced to five years in jail after being convicted of plotting to overthrow Iran's clerical establishment. She was released from jail in March last year and put under house arrest in Tehran in response to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 in Iran's prisons, but her movements were restricted and she was barred from leaving the country. British foreign minister Dominic Raab welcomed her release but said Iran's continued treatment of her remained "intolerable". British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq said she had spoken to Zaghari-Ratcliffe's family and that they told her she had had her ankle tag removed, but has been summoned again to court. "I have been in touch with Nazanin's family. Some news: 1) Thankfully her ankle tag has been removed. Her first trip will be to see her grandmother. 2) Less positive - she has been summoned once again to court next Sunday," Siddiq, who is the member of parliament for where Zaghari-Ratcliffe used to live, said on Twitter.

British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed by Tehran

The Mail On Sunday, part of a&nbsp;UK&nbsp;newspaper group that lost a&nbsp;high-profile privacy case brought by Meghan Markle, must print a front-page statement acknowledging her legal victory, a judge ruled on Friday.

High Court judge Mark Warby also ordered Associated Newspapers, which owns the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline website, to publish a notice on page three of the paper stating that it had "infringed her copyright".

Warby in February upheld Meghan's claim that Associated Newspapers had breached her privacy and copyright by publishing parts of a 2018 letter she sent to her father Thomas Markle.

The letter to her estranged father was written a few months after she married Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, Prince Harry, and asked him to stop talking to tabloids and making false claims about her in interviews.

Warby has already ordered Associated Newspapers to make an "interim payment" of £450,000 ($627,000) to cover legal costs for the Duchess of Sussex, as Meghan is formally known.&nbsp;

On Friday he also formally refused its appeal bid, saying the newspaper group had "no real prospect" of success.

In his written ruling, the judge said the front- and third-page statements about Meghan's successful copyright claim would have "genuine utility".

He noted the Associated Newspapers titles involved had "devoted a very considerable amount of space to the infringing articles, which it continued to publish for over two years".

"The wording sought is modest by comparison, and factual in nature," Warby added of the notices he was ordering.

Meghan, 39, and 36-year-old Harry, who now live in the United States after stepping down from frontline royal duties last year, have taken legal action against a number of publications, alleging invasion of privacy.

The couple have been in the headlines all week after becoming embroiled in a transatlantic war of words with Buckingham Palace ahead of their blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey, set to air Sunday.

The Mail On Sunday, part of a UK newspaper group that lost a high-profile privacy case brought by Meghan Markle, must print a front-page statement acknowledging her legal victory, a judge ruled on Friday.

The Mail On Sunday, part of a UK newspaper group that lost a high-profile privacy case brought by Meghan Markle, must print a front-page statement acknowledging her legal victory, a judge ruled on Friday. High Court judge Mark Warby also ordered Associated Newspapers, which owns the Mail On Sunday and MailOnline website, to publish a notice on page three of the paper stating that it had "infringed her copyright". Warby in February upheld Meghan's claim that Associated Newspapers had breached her privacy and copyright by publishing parts of a 2018 letter she sent to her father Thomas Markle. The letter to her estranged father was written a few months after she married Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, Prince Harry, and asked him to stop talking to tabloids and making false claims about her in interviews. Warby has already ordered Associated Newspapers to make an "interim payment" of £450,000 ($627,000) to cover legal costs for the Duchess of Sussex, as Meghan is formally known. On Friday he also formally refused its appeal bid, saying the newspaper group had "no real prospect" of success. In his written ruling, the judge said the front- and third-page statements about Meghan's successful copyright claim would have "genuine utility". He noted the Associated Newspapers titles involved had "devoted a very considerable amount of space to the infringing articles, which it continued to publish for over two years". "The wording sought is modest by comparison, and factual in nature," Warby added of the notices he was ordering. Meghan, 39, and 36-year-old Harry, who now live in the United States after stepping down from frontline royal duties last year, have taken legal action against a number of publications, alleging invasion of privacy. The couple have been in the headlines all week after becoming embroiled in a transatlantic war of words with Buckingham Palace ahead of their blockbuster interview with Oprah Winfrey, set to air Sunday.

UK paper told to print front-page statement after Meghan Markle's legal win

The US has agreed on a four-month suspension of retaliatory tariffs imposed on UK exports including scotch whisky over a long-running aircraft subsidy row.

World Business Watch: US suspends tariffs on UK exports including Scotch

In October of last year, the EU started legal proceedings against the U.K. after the government put forward a bill that would have overridden the same deal over Northern Ireland.

UK denies breaking EU treaty over Northern Ireland

While reading out Britain's Budget 2021 address, British finance minister Rishi Sunak said that the UK economy is likely to reach its pre-pandemic output level by the middle of next year (2022). WION brings you all you need to know about UK Budget 2021.

World Business Watch: UK economy to reach pre-pandemic size by mid-2022, says Sunak

UK Finance minister Rishi Sunak will promise to do "whatever it takes", including a five-month extension of Britain's huge jobs rescue plan, to steer the economy through what he hopes will be the final months of COVID restrictions.

World Business Watch: FM Sunak targets COVID, deficit in UK budget 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended his government's plan to halve humanitarian aid for war-torn Yemen while continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, despite a US freeze on its weapons' exports.

An international aid conference on Yemen this week yielded less than half the funds needed to prevent what the UN warns is a looming famine.&nbsp;

"Cutting aid is a death sentence," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned, in remarks echoed in the UK parliament by opposition leaders grilling Johnson at weekly prime minister's questions.

Britain pledged £87 million ($122 million, 100 million euros), about half the amount it offered at last year's Yemen conference, and only 40 percent of the total funding it provided to the shattered country during 2020.&nbsp;

"How on earth can the prime minister justify selling arms to Saudi Arabia and cutting aid to people starving in Yemen?" said Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party.

He pointed to last month's decision by the new administration of President Joe Biden to pause US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which is leading a devastating conflict against Huthi rebels in Yemen, pending a review.

"It is true that current straightened circumstances, which I'm sure the people of this country understand, mean that temporarily we must reduce aid spending," Johnson replied, noting the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on UK finances.

"But that does not obscure the fact that when it comes to our duty to the people of Yemen, we continue to step up to the plate," he said, noting Britain has given about £1 billion in the past five years, since the Saudi-led bombing campaign began.

"It's a record of which this country can be proud. Given the difficulties that this country faces, I think the people of this country will think we've got our priorities right."

Johnson added that the government continues "scrupulously to follow the humanitarian guidance which are amongst the toughest measures anywhere in the world in respect of all arms sales".

Citing the pandemic, the UK government is planning to scrap a legally enshrined target for its aid budget this year, leading to accusations even from its own ranks that it is abandoning some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.

Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, bitterly criticising the decision on Yemen, said cutting the UK's overall aid commitment was a "strategic mistake with deadly consequences".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended his government's plan to halve humanitarian aid for war-torn Yemen while continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, despite a US freeze on its weapons' exports.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Wednesday defended his government's plan to halve humanitarian aid for war-torn Yemen while continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, despite a US freeze on its weapons' exports. An international aid conference on Yemen this week yielded less than half the funds needed to prevent what the UN warns is a looming famine. "Cutting aid is a death sentence," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned, in remarks echoed in the UK parliament by opposition leaders grilling Johnson at weekly prime minister's questions. Britain pledged £87 million ($122 million, 100 million euros), about half the amount it offered at last year's Yemen conference, and only 40 percent of the total funding it provided to the shattered country during 2020. "How on earth can the prime minister justify selling arms to Saudi Arabia and cutting aid to people starving in Yemen?" said Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour party. He pointed to last month's decision by the new administration of President Joe Biden to pause US arms sales to Saudi Arabia, which is leading a devastating conflict against Huthi rebels in Yemen, pending a review. "It is true that current straightened circumstances, which I'm sure the people of this country understand, mean that temporarily we must reduce aid spending," Johnson replied, noting the Covid-19 pandemic's impact on UK finances. "But that does not obscure the fact that when it comes to our duty to the people of Yemen, we continue to step up to the plate," he said, noting Britain has given about £1 billion in the past five years, since the Saudi-led bombing campaign began. "It's a record of which this country can be proud. Given the difficulties that this country faces, I think the people of this country will think we've got our priorities right." Johnson added that the government continues "scrupulously to follow the humanitarian guidance which are amongst the toughest measures anywhere in the world in respect of all arms sales". Citing the pandemic, the UK government is planning to scrap a legally enshrined target for its aid budget this year, leading to accusations even from its own ranks that it is abandoning some of the world's poorest and most vulnerable people. Former international development secretary Andrew Mitchell, bitterly criticising the decision on Yemen, said cutting the UK's overall aid commitment was a "strategic mistake with deadly consequences".

UK defends Yemen aid cuts and arms sales to Saudi

Finance minister Rishi Sunak promises on Wednesday to do "whatever it takes", including a five-month extension of Britain's huge jobs rescue plan.

UK's Rishi Sunak promises 'whatever it takes' in new Covid budget plan

A British chain of holiday parks was until recently using an 'undesirable guest list' to stop people with Irish surnames from making bookings, an anti-discrimination watchdog said on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The list used internally at Pontins and obtained by the i newspaper included surnames commonly found in Ireland and within the Irish diaspora in Britain, such as Doherty, Gallagher, Murphy, Nolan, O'Brien and O'Connell.&nbsp;

The list was aimed at stopping Gypsies and Irish travellers from staying at Pontins facilities, according to a whistleblower, who contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission.&nbsp;

"It is hard not to draw comparisons with an ‘undesirable guests’ list and the signs displayed in hotel windows 50 years ago, explicitly barring Irish people and Black people," said Alastair Pringle, the commission's executive director.&nbsp;

"Banning people from services based on their race is discrimination and is unlawful. To say that such policies are outdated is an understatement."&nbsp;

The whistleblower told the i that while working in the booking department at Pontins, which runs six holiday parks in England and Wales, he was instructed to refuse or cancel bookings requested by customers, whose names were on the list.&nbsp;

Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, the company that owns Pontins, signed a legally binding agreement with the commission in which it pledged to prevent discriminatory practices.&nbsp;

"Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited has agreed to work together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to further enhance its staff training and procedures in order to further promote equality throughout its business," a spokesman said in a statement posted by the Commission.&nbsp;

The company could not immediately be reached for further comment or explanation of the policy.&nbsp;

Irish higher education minister Simon Harris, one of many who reacted to the case in Ireland, said he was saddened and angered.&nbsp;

"As a child, my family and I holidayed in Pontins many times. Childhood memories of a happy place and good times are now replaced by a sense of disgust that such prejudice would exist," he said on Twitter.&nbsp;

A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the list as 'completely unacceptable'.&nbsp;

A British chain of holiday parks was until recently using an 'undesirable guest list' to stop people with Irish surnames from making bookings, an anti-discrimination watchdog said on Tuesday.

A British chain of holiday parks was until recently using an 'undesirable guest list' to stop people with Irish surnames from making bookings, an anti-discrimination watchdog said on Tuesday. The list used internally at Pontins and obtained by the i newspaper included surnames commonly found in Ireland and within the Irish diaspora in Britain, such as Doherty, Gallagher, Murphy, Nolan, O'Brien and O'Connell. The list was aimed at stopping Gypsies and Irish travellers from staying at Pontins facilities, according to a whistleblower, who contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission. "It is hard not to draw comparisons with an ‘undesirable guests’ list and the signs displayed in hotel windows 50 years ago, explicitly barring Irish people and Black people," said Alastair Pringle, the commission's executive director. "Banning people from services based on their race is discrimination and is unlawful. To say that such policies are outdated is an understatement." The whistleblower told the i that while working in the booking department at Pontins, which runs six holiday parks in England and Wales, he was instructed to refuse or cancel bookings requested by customers, whose names were on the list. Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited, the company that owns Pontins, signed a legally binding agreement with the commission in which it pledged to prevent discriminatory practices. "Britannia Jinky Jersey Limited has agreed to work together with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to further enhance its staff training and procedures in order to further promote equality throughout its business," a spokesman said in a statement posted by the Commission. The company could not immediately be reached for further comment or explanation of the policy. Irish higher education minister Simon Harris, one of many who reacted to the case in Ireland, said he was saddened and angered. "As a child, my family and I holidayed in Pontins many times. Childhood memories of a happy place and good times are now replaced by a sense of disgust that such prejudice would exist," he said on Twitter. A spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the list as 'completely unacceptable'.

UK holiday parks chain blacklisted people with Irish surnames 

According to recently released data, more than 20 million people across the United Kingdom have received their first COVID-19 vaccine shot. With this, the country has successfully rolled out Europe's fastest vaccination program.

Britain: Vaccination hits 20 million mark in Europe's fastest jab rollout

The United Kingdoms finance minister Rishi Sunak said the idea of giving people vaccine passports or certificates to allow them to enter venues or events might be a way to help the country and its economy recover from the coronavirus pandemic.

World Business Watch: UK FM Rishi Sunak says vaccine passports might help the economy

Who is an employee? It may seem a simple question but it's not. In 2016, two Uber drivers in the United Kingdom took the app-based cab service to court.&nbsp;

These two drivers told the court that they worked for Uber but it said, the drivers did not work for the company and that they were self-employed. Is that something to fight over? Actually, it is.&nbsp;

The moment you employ someone, you are expected to give him or her employment benefits like minimum wage, annual leaves, insurance. These vary depending on a country's labour laws.&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-who-is-an-employee-366305/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In UK, there are three categories of employment status, employees, workers and self-employed contractors. Employees have the maximum protection as they enjoy the most benefits. Self-employed contractors have the least. So, when this case came up in court. Uber stuck to its claim and so did the two drivers. There was a four-year-long legal battle and then UK's top court said, uber drivers should be treated as workers and not self-employed. It meant that they are entitled to a minimum wage and a holiday pay.&nbsp;

It happened on the February 19. It was just the beginning of Uber's troubles. Four days later, the company was fined in Italy. Again, over the same employment debate.&nbsp;

Uber, and food delivery apps were told their couriers delivery personnel are employees. They should be treated as employees. Four companies were fined 733 million euros for breaching labour safety rules. The companies were told to pay the couriers delivery personnel, social security and insurance also give them adequate clothing, helmets, masks, scooters or bicycles, etc.&nbsp;

The decision of two courts in Italy and Britain to declare Uber drivers and food app couriers as employees is important for the whole world as it sets a precedent.&nbsp;

It's only a matter of time before such a case comes up in another country. It is important now as it ensures that there is no exploitation.&nbsp;

App-based cabs, and food delivery services have been around for some time now in India. They have generated employment for thousands of people. Many have migrated from rural areas to drive cabs in cities. Driving an Ola or an Uber was very lucrative a few years ago. Several people quit their desk jobs to drive cabs but the story slowly changed over the years. In 2017, some drivers approached a Delhi court as they said, the apps were exploiting them by not treating them as employees.&nbsp;

Soon, a video emerged of a Zomato delivery agent tasting food that he was tasked with delivering. While we all cringed, we overlooked the desperation in the video. &nbsp;

In India, a food delivery agent employed by a Zomato or a Swiggy barely earns a few thousand rupees a month. They work long shifts in polluted cities during extreme weather and yet they enjoy no benefits, such as sick leaves, insurance, etc. &nbsp;&nbsp;

They are called independent self-employed workers but they do not enjoy the benefit of that status. In other words, they cannot take up multiple jobs. The app-based cab drivers can, but the food couriers can't. When the pandemic struck many of these workers were fired without notice or compensation.&nbsp;

Their companies blamed the coronavirus but fingers were really pointing at the downside of gig economy. That's independent working. Today, the gig economy is worth over $3.7 trillion.&nbsp;

Freelancing, working multiple jobs and working from home have been trendy since the pandemic struck but what we don't realise is that such jobs have no cushions, no benefits.&nbsp;

The latest rulings by the courts in the UK and Italy have also put employers in a fix. Not only will they have to shell out more resources, they will also have to figure out how the resources are allocated. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Many cab drivers work for multiple service providers. How do you determine which company is supposed to give them employment benefits? Also, will the drivers be able to serve the rest of the companies once they are categorised as employees?&nbsp;

Will the end result be in favour of the drivers or will it create further troubles for them?&nbsp;

What the industry needs right now is to come up with a new model to ensure- that while companies survive those working are also not exploited.&nbsp;

Who is an employee? It may seem a simple question but it's not. In 2016, two Uber drivers in the United Kingdom took the app-based cab service to court. These two drivers told the court that they worked for Uber but it said, the drivers did not work for the company and that they were self-employed.

Who is an employee? It may seem a simple question but it's not. In 2016, two Uber drivers in the United Kingdom took the app-based cab service to court. These two drivers told the court that they worked for Uber but it said, the drivers did not work for the company and that they were self-employed. Is that something to fight over? Actually, it is. The moment you employ someone, you are expected to give him or her employment benefits like minimum wage, annual leaves, insurance. These vary depending on a country's labour laws. In UK, there are three categories of employment status, employees, workers and self-employed contractors. Employees have the maximum protection as they enjoy the most benefits. Self-employed contractors have the least. So, when this case came up in court. Uber stuck to its claim and so did the two drivers. There was a four-year-long legal battle and then UK's top court said, uber drivers should be treated as workers and not self-employed. It meant that they are entitled to a minimum wage and a holiday pay. It happened on the February 19. It was just the beginning of Uber's troubles. Four days later, the company was fined in Italy. Again, over the same employment debate. Uber, and food delivery apps were told their couriers delivery personnel are employees. They should be treated as employees. Four companies were fined 733 million euros for breaching labour safety rules. The companies were told to pay the couriers delivery personnel, social security and insurance also give them adequate clothing, helmets, masks, scooters or bicycles, etc. The decision of two courts in Italy and Britain to declare Uber drivers and food app couriers as employees is important for the whole world as it sets a precedent. It's only a matter of time before such a case comes up in another country. It is important now as it ensures that there is no exploitation. App-based cabs, and food delivery services have been around for some time now in India. They have generated employment for thousands of people. Many have migrated from rural areas to drive cabs in cities. Driving an Ola or an Uber was very lucrative a few years ago. Several people quit their desk jobs to drive cabs but the story slowly changed over the years. In 2017, some drivers approached a Delhi court as they said, the apps were exploiting them by not treating them as employees. Soon, a video emerged of a Zomato delivery agent tasting food that he was tasked with delivering. While we all cringed, we overlooked the desperation in the video. In India, a food delivery agent employed by a Zomato or a Swiggy barely earns a few thousand rupees a month. They work long shifts in polluted cities during extreme weather and yet they enjoy no benefits, such as sick leaves, insurance, etc. They are called independent self-employed workers but they do not enjoy the benefit of that status. In other words, they cannot take up multiple jobs. The app-based cab drivers can, but the food couriers can't. When the pandemic struck many of these workers were fired without notice or compensation. Their companies blamed the coronavirus but fingers were really pointing at the downside of gig economy. That's independent working. Today, the gig economy is worth over $3.7 trillion. Freelancing, working multiple jobs and working from home have been trendy since the pandemic struck but what we don't realise is that such jobs have no cushions, no benefits. The latest rulings by the courts in the UK and Italy have also put employers in a fix. Not only will they have to shell out more resources, they will also have to figure out how the resources are allocated. Many cab drivers work for multiple service providers. How do you determine which company is supposed to give them employment benefits? Also, will the drivers be able to serve the rest of the companies once they are categorised as employees? Will the end result be in favour of the drivers or will it create further troubles for them? What the industry needs right now is to come up with a new model to ensure- that while companies survive those working are also not exploited.

Courts set precedent to ensure exploitation of employees ends 

A vast iceberg almost the size of Greater London has broken away from the Antarctic ice shelf near a British research station, the British Antarctic Survey said Friday.

The research body said the iceberg measuring 1,270 square kilometres (490 square miles) had broken off from the 150-metre-thick Brunt Ice Shelf in a process called "calving".

This came almost a decade after scientists first saw massive cracks had formed in the shelf.

A crack in the ice widened by several hundred metres on Friday morning before the iceberg broke off completely.

Britain's Halley VI Research Station monitors the state of the vast floating ice shelf daily.&nbsp;

"Our teams at BAS have been prepared for the calving of an iceberg from Brunt Ice Shelf for years," said BAS director Jane Francis.

The mobile research base relocated inland for safety reasons in 2016-2017 as cracks in the ice threatened to cut it off.

"That was a wise decision," commented Simon Garrod, BAS director of operations.

The glaciologists said the latest event is unlikely to affect the station's current location.

The base's 12-person team left earlier this month, as they leave the base uninhabited in winter due to the unpredictable conditions.

While they are away, data from GPS instruments at the site goes to a centre in Cambridge, eastern England, for analysis.

Icebergs naturally break off from Antarctica into the ocean in a process accelerated by climate change.

The BAS said in this case, there is "no&nbsp;evidence that climate change has played a significant role".

"Over coming weeks or months, the iceberg may move away; or it could run aground and remain close to Brunt Ice Shelf," said Francis.

The British Antarctic Survey is a world leader in environmental research in the region.

A vast iceberg almost the size of Greater London has broken away from the Antarctic ice shelf near a British research station, the British Antarctic Survey said Friday.

A vast iceberg almost the size of Greater London has broken away from the Antarctic ice shelf near a British research station, the British Antarctic Survey said Friday. The research body said the iceberg measuring 1,270 square kilometres (490 square miles) had broken off from the 150-metre-thick Brunt Ice Shelf in a process called "calving". This came almost a decade after scientists first saw massive cracks had formed in the shelf. A crack in the ice widened by several hundred metres on Friday morning before the iceberg broke off completely. Britain's Halley VI Research Station monitors the state of the vast floating ice shelf daily. "Our teams at BAS have been prepared for the calving of an iceberg from Brunt Ice Shelf for years," said BAS director Jane Francis. The mobile research base relocated inland for safety reasons in 2016-2017 as cracks in the ice threatened to cut it off. "That was a wise decision," commented Simon Garrod, BAS director of operations. The glaciologists said the latest event is unlikely to affect the station's current location. The base's 12-person team left earlier this month, as they leave the base uninhabited in winter due to the unpredictable conditions. While they are away, data from GPS instruments at the site goes to a centre in Cambridge, eastern England, for analysis. Icebergs naturally break off from Antarctica into the ocean in a process accelerated by climate change. The BAS said in this case, there is "no evidence that climate change has played a significant role". "Over coming weeks or months, the iceberg may move away; or it could run aground and remain close to Brunt Ice Shelf," said Francis. The British Antarctic Survey is a world leader in environmental research in the region.

Giant iceberg breaks off near UK Antarctic base

An environmental protest in which nine activists dug themselves into secret tunnels near a central London railway station to demonstrate against a new rail-link ended on Friday, according to the operating company.

Members of the HS2 Rebellion group, including legendary British activist Daniel Hooper, known as Swampy, had been burrowed in 100-feet (30-metre) long tunnels dug three feet beneath Euston Square for over a month.&nbsp;

The network of tunnels was discovered on January 26, having been created by protesters who oppose the redevelopment of the area for the HS2 railway line.

Hooper, who spent a week in a tunnel trying to stop a road development in southwest England in 1996, was arrested after leaving the site on Thursday, along with 18-year-old Blue Sandford and an unnamed 22-year-old woman.

Hooper's son, 16-year-old Rory Hooper, left the site last week, and others were removed earlier, leaving only one protester who was removed on Friday morning.

"HS2 staff, our agents and the emergency service personnel have acted with safety as their utmost priority, risking their own lives in order to ensure the well-being of those who placed themselves in such a dangerous situation underground," HS2 Ltd said.

The firm claimed its staff were "subject to numerous incidences of violence and criminal activity during this operation, including alleged theft and assault".

"Instead of wasting public resources on illegal actions, we urge environmental organisations to support a project that will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the country's fight against climate change," it added.

HS2 is a flagship government rail project set to cost some £100 billion ($137 billion, 115 billion euros) that aims to link London to cities in central and northern England.

It will be Britain's second high-speed line after HS1, which is used by the cross-Channel Eurostar service linking London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as providing Kent commuter services in and out of London.

But the much-delayed project, work on which started last September, has caused outrage among green groups who say it will destroy ancient woodland and do little to help Britain meet its climate targets.

Sandford had earned comparisons to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg when she went on a "school strike" to focus on the Extinction Rebellion movement more than a year ago.

 
&nbsp;

An environmental protest in which nine activists dug themselves into secret tunnels near a central London railway station to demonstrate against a new rail-link ended on Friday, according to the operating company.

An environmental protest in which nine activists dug themselves into secret tunnels near a central London railway station to demonstrate against a new rail-link ended on Friday, according to the operating company. Members of the HS2 Rebellion group, including legendary British activist Daniel Hooper, known as Swampy, had been burrowed in 100-feet (30-metre) long tunnels dug three feet beneath Euston Square for over a month. The network of tunnels was discovered on January 26, having been created by protesters who oppose the redevelopment of the area for the HS2 railway line. Hooper, who spent a week in a tunnel trying to stop a road development in southwest England in 1996, was arrested after leaving the site on Thursday, along with 18-year-old Blue Sandford and an unnamed 22-year-old woman. Hooper's son, 16-year-old Rory Hooper, left the site last week, and others were removed earlier, leaving only one protester who was removed on Friday morning. "HS2 staff, our agents and the emergency service personnel have acted with safety as their utmost priority, risking their own lives in order to ensure the well-being of those who placed themselves in such a dangerous situation underground," HS2 Ltd said. The firm claimed its staff were "subject to numerous incidences of violence and criminal activity during this operation, including alleged theft and assault". "Instead of wasting public resources on illegal actions, we urge environmental organisations to support a project that will help cut the number of cars and lorries on our roads, cut demand for domestic flights, and help the country's fight against climate change," it added. HS2 is a flagship government rail project set to cost some £100 billion ($137 billion, 115 billion euros) that aims to link London to cities in central and northern England. It will be Britain's second high-speed line after HS1, which is used by the cross-Channel Eurostar service linking London to Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam, as well as providing Kent commuter services in and out of London. But the much-delayed project, work on which started last September, has caused outrage among green groups who say it will destroy ancient woodland and do little to help Britain meet its climate targets. Sandford had earned comparisons to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg when she went on a "school strike" to focus on the Extinction Rebellion movement more than a year ago.

Month-long tunnel protest over new UK rail link ends

A UK court will give a verdict on Diamond merchant Nirav Modi's extradition case. Nirav Modi is currently facing charges of fraud and money laundering.

UK judge to rule on Nirav Modi extradition case

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