After the United Kingdom, the European Union has now demanded access to the Xinjian region for human rights observers. EU has urged China to allow an investigation into the alleged mistreatment of Uighur minorities.

WION Fineprint: EU demands China allow 'meaningful access' to Xinjiang region

WION Dispatch: EU demands China allow 'meaningful access' to Xinjiang region

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out a four-step roadmap to take England out of its Covid-19 lockdown.

Boris Johnson's 4-stage plan to lift lockdown

About 50% UK firms are eyeing up opening offices in the UK for the first time after being badly hit by Coronavirus pandemic. The firms are looking towards hiring new staff in order to resume the operations.

Over 50% UK firms plan to hire new staff

After the UK, Canda has now stepped up efforts to call out China over its treatment of Uighur Muslims living in the Xinjiang region. Canada's parliament has passed a non-binding motion on Monday to declare China's treatment of its Uighur minority population as a genocide.

WION Fineprint: Canada votes to recognize China's treatment of Uighur Muslims

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson is all set to announce a roadmap to ease lockdown measures. The roadmap falls under Johnson's accelerated plan to cautiously reopen the economy of Britain.

UK PM to announce a roadmap to ease lockdown measures

Last year, dividend bans meant banks cut or cancelled $70 billion of payments globally, according to the report.

Global dividend payouts forecast to revive in 2021

It was the first nation to begin a mass vaccination campaign, in December, but surging case numbers forced a return to lockdown in early January after an easing of curbs over Christmas.

UK PM Boris Johnson eyes end to lockdown

All adults in Britain will be offered a first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine by the end of July, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday ahead of a planned announcement on the cautious reopening of the economy from lockdown.

Britain to offer all adults a COVID-19 vaccine by end of July

Last week saw India taking a batch of 24 foreign envoys to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. British High Commissioner Alexander Ellis was not one of them. Of the 24 envoys, the largest group of 9 envoys was from Europe. These were envoys of the EU, Finland, France, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden.

India was keen for British High commissioner to also be part of the visit. While the UK did not participate, it was aware of the visit being organized by the Indian government. It is understood that the UK mission in Delhi is closely working with authorities to find the best opportunity for UK high commissioner to visit the union territory soon.

This comes even as within the UK, a number of voices have been keen on developments in Jammu and Kashmir. A visit by British HC could have been a grand occasion to take stock of situation of things on the ground, especially in the backdrop of recent district development council elections and the resumption of 4G internet.&nbsp;&nbsp;

January saw a discussion on Kashmir in the British Parliament, with Minister for Asia Nigel Adams reiterating the official policy, that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;

"We continue to believe that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation," he said.

On the removal of special status, he underlined, "There have been recent elections to the District Development Council... the first to take place since the revocation of article 370" and welcomed the relaxation of restrictions.

Interestingly, the British High commissioner to Pakistan visited Altit fort in Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) in October of last year amid the COVID pandemic.

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&nbsp;

His key focus was boosting tourism in the area, but also, awarding Scottish scholarship to women in Gilgit.

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&nbsp;

Last week saw India taking a batch of 24 foreign envoys to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. British High Commissioner Alexander Ellis was not one of them.

Last week saw India taking a batch of 24 foreign envoys to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. British High Commissioner Alexander Ellis was not one of them. Of the 24 envoys, the largest group of 9 envoys was from Europe. These were envoys of the EU, Finland, France, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. India was keen for British High commissioner to also be part of the visit. While the UK did not participate, it was aware of the visit being organized by the Indian government. It is understood that the UK mission in Delhi is closely working with authorities to find the best opportunity for UK high commissioner to visit the union territory soon. This comes even as within the UK, a number of voices have been keen on developments in Jammu and Kashmir. A visit by British HC could have been a grand occasion to take stock of situation of things on the ground, especially in the backdrop of recent district development council elections and the resumption of 4G internet. January saw a discussion on Kashmir in the British Parliament, with Minister for Asia Nigel Adams reiterating the official policy, that it is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan. "We continue to believe that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting political resolution to the situation," he said. On the removal of special status, he underlined, "There have been recent elections to the District Development Council... the first to take place since the revocation of article 370" and welcomed the relaxation of restrictions. Interestingly, the British High commissioner to Pakistan visited Altit fort in Hunza valley in Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (POK) in October of last year amid the COVID pandemic. https://twitter.com/CTurnerFCDO/status/1314893081959780353 × His key focus was boosting tourism in the area, but also, awarding Scottish scholarship to women in Gilgit. https://twitter.com/CTurnerFCDO/status/1314117582958583808 ×

Absent during current visit, UK working closely for envoy Alexander Eliis' Jammu and Kashmir visit

In the West,&nbsp;people are refusing to take jabs,&nbsp;but in&nbsp;Africa,&nbsp;there aren't medicines,&nbsp;let alone vaccines.&nbsp;

There are talks&nbsp;about global cooperation, but&nbsp;this is the end result.&nbsp;It is&nbsp;a logistical nightmare.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This whole pandemic has been a learning curve.&nbsp;The lessons learnt in the last&nbsp;year&nbsp;should help us prevent the next pandemic&nbsp;if countries are willing to learn.&nbsp;

Right now,&nbsp;this is a world of vaccine haves and have nots.&nbsp;In the United States,&nbsp;doses are&nbsp;getting&nbsp;wasted&nbsp;in refrigerators.&nbsp;In Japan,&nbsp;they don't have enough syringes.&nbsp;

It's a complete breakdown&nbsp;in terms of&nbsp;global cooperation and planning.&nbsp;

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&nbsp;

Earlier,&nbsp;multilateral and regional groupings have failed to boost cooperation&nbsp;but on Thursday,&nbsp;Saarc&nbsp;workshop was South Asia's chance to&nbsp;make the&nbsp;right amends.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The virtual meeting was convened by India&nbsp;and around&nbsp;10 of&nbsp;India's&nbsp;neighbours&nbsp;participated along with&nbsp;Saarc&nbsp;members.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the meeting&nbsp;and&nbsp;talked about promoting best Covid&nbsp;practises&nbsp;and the need for South&nbsp;Asian&nbsp;unity.&nbsp;

Some proposals laid out&nbsp;were&nbsp;a visa regime for medical workers,&nbsp;a regional air ambulance for health contingencies,&nbsp;and most importantly,&nbsp;sharing vaccine efficiency data.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The only issue is that&nbsp;getting everyone onboard&nbsp;in this political climate will be next to impossible.&nbsp;

Politicisation&nbsp;of the pandemic&nbsp;has been happening. Now,&nbsp;even vaccine approvals and purchases are political.&nbsp;Venezuela will only use Russia's&nbsp;Sputnik.&nbsp;Iran will let its people die before using&nbsp;US&nbsp;jabs.&nbsp;Pakistan is at the mercy of Chinese doses.&nbsp;Add to this,&nbsp;a breakdown in supply chains&nbsp;and we have a full-blown crisis.&nbsp;

More than 180 million Americans have been inoculated&nbsp;and&nbsp;in Africa,&nbsp;the jabs haven't even arrived&nbsp;yet.&nbsp;At this rate,&nbsp;it will be 2023 before large parts of the continent are inoculated.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile,&nbsp;the world's most powerful fighting force is turning out to be anti-vaccine.&nbsp;Almost one-third of&nbsp;US&nbsp;servicemen are refusing to take the jab.&nbsp;The reason is unclear.&nbsp;Some reports say the troops are falling for internet&nbsp;rumours.&nbsp;Either way,&nbsp;it's a dangerous prospect.&nbsp; 
US&nbsp;troops travel the world.&nbsp;They eat, sleep and train in close quarters.&nbsp;It's a virus cluster waiting to emerge.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;the Pentagon leadership is scrambling to find a solution.&nbsp;

Maj&nbsp;Gen Jeff Taliaferro, joint chiefs of staff vice director for operations,&nbsp;"We believe that, of course, the vaccine is the right thing to do.&nbsp;It's clearly safe for service members and we need to continue to educate our force and help them understand the benefits and ensure there's leadership involvement in the discussion of the benefits of the of the vaccine."&nbsp;

Across the Atlantic,&nbsp;Britain is falling back on some desperate tactics.&nbsp;They have approved a new clinical trial.&nbsp;One that will deliberately expose healthy people to the Wuhan virus.&nbsp;It's a first during this outbreak.&nbsp;&nbsp; 
During a vaccine trial,&nbsp;normally&nbsp;people are&nbsp;given an experimental jab&nbsp;but at no point,&nbsp;they&nbsp;are infected on purpose.&nbsp;In this case,&nbsp;volunteers are being infected in a controlled environment.&nbsp;

It is&nbsp;to understand the minimum virus load needed to trigger the infection&nbsp;and understanding how the virus transmits.&nbsp;

90 volunteers have been roped in&nbsp;for it.&nbsp;All&nbsp;are&nbsp;aged between 18 and 30.&nbsp;They&nbsp;will&nbsp;be paid 88 pounds per day&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;cost of putting their lives on the line.&nbsp;

Human challenge trials have been done before&nbsp;as&nbsp;they can be helpful in understanding more about a disease.&nbsp;But the fact that the UK&nbsp;is&nbsp;doing this now just goes to show how dire the situation is.&nbsp;

The world would do well to take a leaf from India's playbook,&nbsp;cooperation,&nbsp;solidarity,&nbsp;and&nbsp;neighbourhood&nbsp;first.&nbsp;These have been the pillars of India's pandemic response.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the West, people are refusing to take jabs, but in Africa, there aren't medicines, let alone vaccines. There are talks about global cooperation, but this is the end result.

In the West, people are refusing to take jabs, but in Africa, there aren't medicines, let alone vaccines. There are talks about global cooperation, but this is the end result. It is a logistical nightmare. This whole pandemic has been a learning curve. The lessons learnt in the last year should help us prevent the next pandemic if countries are willing to learn. Right now, this is a world of vaccine haves and have nots. In the United States, doses are getting wasted in refrigerators. In Japan, they don't have enough syringes. It's a complete breakdown in terms of global cooperation and planning. × Earlier, multilateral and regional groupings have failed to boost cooperation but on Thursday, Saarc workshop was South Asia's chance to make the right amends. The virtual meeting was convened by India and around 10 of India's neighbours participated along with Saarc members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the meeting and talked about promoting best Covid practises and the need for South Asian unity. Some proposals laid out were a visa regime for medical workers, a regional air ambulance for health contingencies, and most importantly, sharing vaccine efficiency data. The only issue is that getting everyone onboard in this political climate will be next to impossible. Politicisation of the pandemic has been happening. Now, even vaccine approvals and purchases are political. Venezuela will only use Russia's Sputnik. Iran will let its people die before using US jabs. Pakistan is at the mercy of Chinese doses. Add to this, a breakdown in supply chains and we have a full-blown crisis. More than 180 million Americans have been inoculated and in Africa, the jabs haven't even arrived yet. At this rate, it will be 2023 before large parts of the continent are inoculated. Meanwhile, the world's most powerful fighting force is turning out to be anti-vaccine. Almost one-third of US servicemen are refusing to take the jab. The reason is unclear. Some reports say the troops are falling for internet rumours. Either way, it's a dangerous prospect. US troops travel the world. They eat, sleep and train in close quarters. It's a virus cluster waiting to emerge. So, the Pentagon leadership is scrambling to find a solution. Maj Gen Jeff Taliaferro, joint chiefs of staff vice director for operations, "We believe that, of course, the vaccine is the right thing to do. It's clearly safe for service members and we need to continue to educate our force and help them understand the benefits and ensure there's leadership involvement in the discussion of the benefits of the of the vaccine." Across the Atlantic, Britain is falling back on some desperate tactics. They have approved a new clinical trial. One that will deliberately expose healthy people to the Wuhan virus. It's a first during this outbreak. During a vaccine trial, normally people are given an experimental jab but at no point, they are infected on purpose. In this case, volunteers are being infected in a controlled environment. It is to understand the minimum virus load needed to trigger the infection and understanding how the virus transmits. 90 volunteers have been roped in for it. All are aged between 18 and 30. They will be paid 88 pounds per day as the cost of putting their lives on the line. Human challenge trials have been done before as they can be helpful in understanding more about a disease. But the fact that the UK is doing this now just goes to show how dire the situation is. The world would do well to take a leaf from India's playbook, cooperation, solidarity, and neighbourhood first. These have been the pillars of India's pandemic response.

The story of vaccine haves and have nots

United Kingdom's top court rules in favour of the group of Uber drivers saying that they are entitled to worker rights such as minimum wages and regular breaks.

Uber drivers in UK entitled to worker rights

Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, which holds the G-7 presidency this year, is meeting virtually with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United States to discuss international challenges, chief among them the pandemic that has killed almost 2.5 million people around the world.&nbsp;

Wealthy nations have snapped up hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines against the virus, while some countries in the developing world have little or none.&nbsp;

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Johnson, whose country has had almost 120,000 coronavirus deaths, will promise to give the majority of any future surplus vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX effort to vaccinate the world's most vulnerable people, and will encourage other G-7 countries to do the same, the British government said.&nbsp;

But Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly said it was difficult to say with any kind of certainty when or how much Britain could donate.&nbsp;

We're not really able to give with certainty either a timescale or the numbers involved, he told the BBC.&nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-story-of-vaccine-haves-and-have-nots-364633">The story of vaccine haves and have nots</a>

Anti-poverty group the One Campaign said Britain's promise was not enough.&nbsp;

The virus won't wait on us to be ready before it mutates, so we need to get these vaccines around the world as quickly as possible, said Romilly Greenhill, the group's UK director.&nbsp;

French President Emmanuel Macron gave a firmer target, saying Europe and the US should allocate up to five per cent of their current Covid-19 vaccine supplies to the poorest countries very fast, so that people on the ground see it happening.&nbsp;

Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday.

Some of the world's wealthiest countries are promising to share coronavirus vaccines with the poorest, but details of when and how many remain scarce as leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers hold their first meeting of 2021 on Friday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, which holds the G-7 presidency this year, is meeting virtually with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan and the United States to discuss international challenges, chief among them the pandemic that has killed almost 2.5 million people around the world. Wealthy nations have snapped up hundreds of millions of doses of vaccines against the virus, while some countries in the developing world have little or none. × Johnson, whose country has had almost 120,000 coronavirus deaths, will promise to give the majority of any future surplus vaccines to the UN-backed COVAX effort to vaccinate the world's most vulnerable people, and will encourage other G-7 countries to do the same, the British government said. But Foreign Office Minister James Cleverly said it was difficult to say with any kind of certainty when or how much Britain could donate. We're not really able to give with certainty either a timescale or the numbers involved, he told the BBC. Also Read: The story of vaccine haves and have nots Anti-poverty group the One Campaign said Britain's promise was not enough. The virus won't wait on us to be ready before it mutates, so we need to get these vaccines around the world as quickly as possible, said Romilly Greenhill, the group's UK director. French President Emmanuel Macron gave a firmer target, saying Europe and the US should allocate up to five per cent of their current Covid-19 vaccine supplies to the poorest countries very fast, so that people on the ground see it happening.

Britain vows to ‘share’ vaccines with poor nations as G-7 meets

The UK on Thursday imposed sanctions on three Myanmar generals, accusing them of serious human rights violations following a military coup in the country.

Myanmar's military has arrested civilian leaders, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and announced a year-long state of emergency, alleging that an election in November was beset by fraud. The electoral commission dismissed the army's complaints.

The military junta has promised a new election and defended its February 1 seizure of power, denying it was a coup.

"Myanmar’s military and police have committed serious human rights violations, including violating the right to life, the right to freedom of assembly, the right not to be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention, and the right to freedom of expression," the government statement said.

Britain said it would enforce immediate asset freezes and travel bans against the three members of the Myanmar military: the minister of defence, Mya Tun Oo, the minister for home affairs, Soe Htut, and deputy minister for home affairs Than Hlaing.

The UK also said further safeguards were being put in place to prevent British aid indirectly supporting the military-led government and additional measures would prevent British businesses working with Myanmar’s military.

Britain already had sanctions in force against 16 individuals from the Myanmar military.

Washington imposed new sanctions on the Myanmar military last week and has urged other UN members to follow suit.

The UK on Thursday imposed sanctions on three Myanmar generals, accusing them of serious human rights violations following a military coup in the country. Myanmar's military has arrested civilian leaders, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and announced a year-long state of emergency, alleging that an election in November was beset by fraud.

The UK on Thursday imposed sanctions on three Myanmar generals, accusing them of serious human rights violations following a military coup in the country. Myanmar's military has arrested civilian leaders, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, and announced a year-long state of emergency, alleging that an election in November was beset by fraud. The electoral commission dismissed the army's complaints. The military junta has promised a new election and defended its February 1 seizure of power, denying it was a coup. "Myanmar’s military and police have committed serious human rights violations, including violating the right to life, the right to freedom of assembly, the right not to be subject to arbitrary arrest or detention, and the right to freedom of expression," the government statement said. Britain said it would enforce immediate asset freezes and travel bans against the three members of the Myanmar military: the minister of defence, Mya Tun Oo, the minister for home affairs, Soe Htut, and deputy minister for home affairs Than Hlaing. The UK also said further safeguards were being put in place to prevent British aid indirectly supporting the military-led government and additional measures would prevent British businesses working with Myanmar’s military. Britain already had sanctions in force against 16 individuals from the Myanmar military. Washington imposed new sanctions on the Myanmar military last week and has urged other UN members to follow suit.

Britain sanctions three Myanmar generals after military coup

This Coronavirus pandemic has altered lives of billions. Nations across the world impose the lockdowns to curb the spread of this deadly virus. These lockdowns came with their economic impact. In UK's Oldham people have been struggling to make the ends meet.

Economic impact of lockdown on UK's oldest and poorest town 'Oldham'

United Kingdom has given a approval to the trial that will expose healthy volunteers to COVID-19. Britain has became the first country in the world to give a go-ahead for human challenge trials.

COVID-19: UK gives go-ahead to world's first 'human challenge' trials

US State Secretary Antony Blinken is holding a virtual meeting with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and India as part of the Qued grouping, This meeting is the first of the informal groups under the Joe Biden's administration.

WION Fineprint: Antony Blinken holds virtual Quad meet with Australia, India and Japan

The UK, France and Germany are set to hold talks with the United States over the Iran nuclear agreement. France will be hosting these talks between the diplomats of the European powers and US State Secretary Antony Blinken.

WION Dispatch: UK, France, Germany to hold talks with US on Iran deal

A new Wuhan virus variant has been found in the UK. It has been spotted in 10 countries. British experts are not ruling out revaccinations to fight mutations. But with millions still waiting for their first shot - are revaccinations even possible? WION's Palki Sharma has more.

Gravitas: New variant of Wuhan virus discovered in the UK

A 1943 landscape painted by Winston Churchill and which the wartime British prime minister gifted to US President Franklin D Roosevelt is expected to fetch up to $3.5 million when it is sold at auction next month. &nbsp;

Churchill painted 'Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque' in Marrakech, following the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, which both leaders attended. Churchill then took Roosevelt to Marrakech to see the sun set over the Atlas mountains. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The work is to be sold from Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie's Jolie Family Collection, with an estimated price tag of 1.5 million pounds - 2.5 million pounds ($2.08 million - $3.47 million). &nbsp;

"Churchill painted nothing in the Second World War except this one painting," Nicholas Orchard, head of the Modern British Art department at Christie's said. &nbsp;

"Churchill painted it for Roosevelt ... And so it signifies not just their friendship but also the special relationship between Britain and America. The other factor is that Churchill considered his North African views to be a cut above all his other paintings." &nbsp;

Churchill, who took up painting in his forties, first visited Morocco in 1935 and painted around 45 pictures of the country, according to Christie's. &nbsp;

"The record for a (Churchill) painting at auction is 1.8 million pounds, and likely interested buyers will probably come from the U.K. and the United States," Orchard said. &nbsp;

"But there's a much greater global interest, particularly in Churchill. And so we could see Middle Eastern interest, obviously, because of the subject matter as well as interest from the Far East." &nbsp;

The painting is leading Christie’s Modern British Art Evening Sale on March 1, where other works on offer include a portrait of socialite Doris Delevingne by John Lavery. &nbsp;

A 1943 landscape painted by Winston Churchill and which the wartime British prime minister gifted to US President Franklin D Roosevelt is expected to fetch up to $3.

A 1943 landscape painted by Winston Churchill and which the wartime British prime minister gifted to US President Franklin D Roosevelt is expected to fetch up to $3.5 million when it is sold at auction next month. Churchill painted 'Tower of the Koutoubia Mosque' in Marrakech, following the January 1943 Casablanca Conference, which both leaders attended. Churchill then took Roosevelt to Marrakech to see the sun set over the Atlas mountains. The work is to be sold from Hollywood actor Angelina Jolie's Jolie Family Collection, with an estimated price tag of 1.5 million pounds - 2.5 million pounds ($2.08 million - $3.47 million). "Churchill painted nothing in the Second World War except this one painting," Nicholas Orchard, head of the Modern British Art department at Christie's said. "Churchill painted it for Roosevelt ... And so it signifies not just their friendship but also the special relationship between Britain and America. The other factor is that Churchill considered his North African views to be a cut above all his other paintings." Churchill, who took up painting in his forties, first visited Morocco in 1935 and painted around 45 pictures of the country, according to Christie's. "The record for a (Churchill) painting at auction is 1.8 million pounds, and likely interested buyers will probably come from the U.K. and the United States," Orchard said. "But there's a much greater global interest, particularly in Churchill. And so we could see Middle Eastern interest, obviously, because of the subject matter as well as interest from the Far East." The painting is leading Christie’s Modern British Art Evening Sale on March 1, where other works on offer include a portrait of socialite Doris Delevingne by John Lavery.

Churchill wartime painting gift to Roosevelt up for auction

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related. 
 
The prince, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, walked into hospital unaided after feeling unwell for a short period, a royal source said. 
 
"The Duke`s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness`s doctor, after feeling unwell," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. 
 
He is at the King Edward VII Hospital in London where he is expected to remain for a few days of observation and rest. 
 
He does not have a COVID-19 related illness, the royal source said. 
 
The queen, 94, remains at Windsor Castle near London, where the pair have been staying during Britain`s coronavirus pandemic. Both received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in January. 
 
Philip is rarely seen in public after he stepped down from official engagements in August 2017. He was previously admitted to hospital at the end of 2019. 
 
The Greek-born former naval officer has had several stays in hospital over the last decade, including treatment for an infection in 2017 and hip replacement surgery.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related.

Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth`s 99-year-old husband, was admitted to hospital on Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure with an ailment that is not COVID-related. The prince, whose official title is the Duke of Edinburgh, walked into hospital unaided after feeling unwell for a short period, a royal source said. "The Duke`s admission is a precautionary measure, on the advice of His Royal Highness`s doctor, after feeling unwell," Buckingham Palace said in a statement. He is at the King Edward VII Hospital in London where he is expected to remain for a few days of observation and rest. He does not have a COVID-19 related illness, the royal source said. The queen, 94, remains at Windsor Castle near London, where the pair have been staying during Britain`s coronavirus pandemic. Both received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in January. Philip is rarely seen in public after he stepped down from official engagements in August 2017. He was previously admitted to hospital at the end of 2019. The Greek-born former naval officer has had several stays in hospital over the last decade, including treatment for an infection in 2017 and hip replacement surgery.

Britain's 99-year-old Prince Philip admitted to hospital

As India edges closer towards taming COVID, the west is overwhelmed. 7 new variants have emerged in the US. The UK is still under lockdown and in France, only 1 vaccine dose is being administered. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how the west is still struggling with the Wuhan Virus.

Gravitas: The West is struggling with Wuhan Virus

Another COVID-19 variant with a potentially worrying set of mutations has been detected in the UK, which is considered to be over 70% more deadly. This variant is known as 'B1525'.

32 cases of new COVID-19 variant 'B1525' found in UK

Around a fifth of manufacturers thought they might gain from customers bringing work back to Britain from the EU.

UK: 54% manufacturers facing export difficulties

More than 15 million people in Britain most vulnerable to coronavirus have received a first vaccination dose, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Sunday, hailing the "significant milestone".

UK hits target to vaccinate 15 million most at risk from coronavirus

A new study has found that obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths than smoking in England and Scotland. The new research has been published in the open-access journal BMC Public Health.

Obesity a bigger killer than smoking: Study

With almost 48 hours left before the UK imposes the compulsory hotel quarantine for all incoming travellers, the immigration officials are yet to be briefed, as per local media reports.

It has been reported that the immigration officers have not been informed about this decision at all, till now. While they have read and heard about it in the newspapers and channels, they have not received official communication.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-travellers-may-have-to-undergo-covid-tests-in-quarantine-362462">UK travellers may have to undergo Covid tests in quarantine</a>

"They've had no information at all," said Lucy Moreton, the general secretary of the ISU. "They can watch the media, read statements from ministers, but that’s pretty much it."

This has come as a shock as the country has announced that from Monday, travellers arriving from 33 countries named in the "red list" will be forced to spend at least 10 days in hotel quarantine, but at their own expense.

These 33 countries are the ones where the spread of new variants, which are vaccine resistant, is more and the cases have been increasing.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/melbourne-orders-snap-coronavirus-lockdown-during-australian-open-tennis-363038">Melbourne orders snap coronavirus lockdown during Australian Open tennis</a>

Travellers have also complained that they have been unable to book a hotel room for their compulsory quarantine as the official booking portal faced a "minor technical issue".

"It is Friday afternoon and I understand Border Force still haven’t been given the operational guidance on how the hotel quarantine system will work from Monday. This isn’t good enough," said Yvette Cooper, Labour MP, chair of Commons home affairs committee.

"We urgently need to know what arrangements have been made to ensure that those from high-risk countries about to go to hotels aren’t queueing with people about to get on the tube or train home."

The new guidelines have also raised concerns as the travellers fear mixing with people coming from the 'red list' countries.

In addition to this, experts have also warned against letting the quarantined travellers come out once a day for exercise.

With almost 48 hours left before the UK imposes the compulsory hotel quarantine for all incoming travellers, the immigration officials are yet to be briefed, as per local media reports.

With almost 48 hours left before the UK imposes the compulsory hotel quarantine for all incoming travellers, the immigration officials are yet to be briefed, as per local media reports. It has been reported that the immigration officers have not been informed about this decision at all, till now. While they have read and heard about it in the newspapers and channels, they have not received official communication. Also read| UK travellers may have to undergo Covid tests in quarantine "They've had no information at all," said Lucy Moreton, the general secretary of the ISU. "They can watch the media, read statements from ministers, but that’s pretty much it." This has come as a shock as the country has announced that from Monday, travellers arriving from 33 countries named in the "red list" will be forced to spend at least 10 days in hotel quarantine, but at their own expense. These 33 countries are the ones where the spread of new variants, which are vaccine resistant, is more and the cases have been increasing. Also read| Melbourne orders snap coronavirus lockdown during Australian Open tennis Travellers have also complained that they have been unable to book a hotel room for their compulsory quarantine as the official booking portal faced a "minor technical issue". "It is Friday afternoon and I understand Border Force still haven’t been given the operational guidance on how the hotel quarantine system will work from Monday. This isn’t good enough," said Yvette Cooper, Labour MP, chair of Commons home affairs committee. "We urgently need to know what arrangements have been made to ensure that those from high-risk countries about to go to hotels aren’t queueing with people about to get on the tube or train home." The new guidelines have also raised concerns as the travellers fear mixing with people coming from the 'red list' countries. In addition to this, experts have also warned against letting the quarantined travellers come out once a day for exercise.

UK immigration officials still not briefed about hotel quarantine: Reports

UK's media regulator fines Khalsa TV for the content which indirectly called for Sikhs to commit violence. The channel also aired anti-India content and has been fined £50,000. Mandy Clark takes you through the details in conversation with Alyson le Grange.

UK's Khalsa TV fined for provocative content

The UK media watchdog imposed a fine of 50,000 pounds on Khalsa Television Ltd for airing a music video and a discussion program which was an indirect call for British Sikhs to commit acts of violence. The telecast also had a terror reference.

The Office of Communications or Ofcom issued the order on Friday (February 12). The order was passed based on Ofcom's observations that dated back to February and November 2019.

Ofcom has asked Khalsa TV to not telecast the content found to be breaching its rules and guidelines. It has also asked the channel to broadcast a statement of Ofcom's findings on a date and in a form to be determined by the watchdog.

The order states that out of 50,000 pounds, 20,000 are for airing the music video while 30,000 are for airing the discussion programme.

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On July 4, 7, and 9 in 2018, KTV broadcast a music video for a song called 'Bagga and Shera'. Following its investigation, Ofcom found that the music video was an indirect call to action for Sikhs living in the UK to commit violence, up to and including murder. The discussion programme in question was aired live on March 30, 2019, as 'Panthak Masle'.

“Ofcom has imposed financial penalties of 20,000 pounds and 30,000 pounds on Khalsa Television Limited in relation to its service KTV for failing to comply with our broadcasting rules. The 20,000 pounds penalty relates to a music video. The 30,000 pounds penalty relates to a discussion programme,” the Ofcom decision states.

“Ofcom also found that it included a reference to the proscribed terrorist organisation the Babbar Khalsa, and which in our view could be taken as legitimising it and normalising its aims and actions in the eyes of viewers,” it notes.

The media watchdog conducted the investigation after it received complaints about Khalsa TV's broadcasts.

(With PTI inputs)

The UK media watchdog imposed a fine of 50,000 pounds on Khalsa Television Ltd for airing a music video and a discussion program which was an indirect call for British Sikhs to commit acts of violence.

The UK media watchdog imposed a fine of 50,000 pounds on Khalsa Television Ltd for airing a music video and a discussion program which was an indirect call for British Sikhs to commit acts of violence. The telecast also had a terror reference. The Office of Communications or Ofcom issued the order on Friday (February 12). The order was passed based on Ofcom's observations that dated back to February and November 2019. Ofcom has asked Khalsa TV to not telecast the content found to be breaching its rules and guidelines. It has also asked the channel to broadcast a statement of Ofcom's findings on a date and in a form to be determined by the watchdog. The order states that out of 50,000 pounds, 20,000 are for airing the music video while 30,000 are for airing the discussion programme. Also Read | British economy suffers worst annual slump since the Great Frost of 1709 On July 4, 7, and 9 in 2018, KTV broadcast a music video for a song called 'Bagga and Shera'. Following its investigation, Ofcom found that the music video was an indirect call to action for Sikhs living in the UK to commit violence, up to and including murder. The discussion programme in question was aired live on March 30, 2019, as 'Panthak Masle'. “Ofcom has imposed financial penalties of 20,000 pounds and 30,000 pounds on Khalsa Television Limited in relation to its service KTV for failing to comply with our broadcasting rules. The 20,000 pounds penalty relates to a music video. The 30,000 pounds penalty relates to a discussion programme,” the Ofcom decision states. “Ofcom also found that it included a reference to the proscribed terrorist organisation the Babbar Khalsa, and which in our view could be taken as legitimising it and normalising its aims and actions in the eyes of viewers,” it notes. The media watchdog conducted the investigation after it received complaints about Khalsa TV's broadcasts. (With PTI inputs)

UK media watchdog imposes 50 thousand pound fine on Khalsa TV

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