The United Kingdom has announced a $63 million funding for Rohingya refugees living in Bangladesh and urged the global community not to 'turn away from Rohingya's suffering'.

UK gives $63 mn for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

United Kingdom govt has imposed the tougher COVID-19 restrictions on the Greater Manchester region in Northern England as COVID-19 cases rise in the country.

UK imposes tougher COVID-19 restrictions on the Greater Manchester region in North England

The US charged six current and former members of Russia’s military intelligence agency for allegedly carrying out some of the world’s most destructive hacking attacks from 2015 to 2019.

Your Story: US charges 6 Russian intelligence agents over cyberattacks

A report by a British newspaper claims UK PM Boris Johnson plans to resign, as he is unhappy with his salary. How does Johnson's salary of close to $196,000/year stack up against other world leaders? WION's Palki Sharma gets you a report.

Gravitas: Is Boris Johnson Unhappy with his salary?

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said Monday that Brussels was ready to pursue post-Brexit trade talks on the basis of "legal texts", but was waiting for a response from London.

The UK government, on its part, said there was no point resuming Brexit talks with the European Union without compromise from Brussels to recognise Britain's new-found sovereignty from next year.

"There's no point in negotiations proceeding as long as the EU sticks with this position. Such talks will be meaningless, and will take us no nearer to finding a workable solution," senior minister Michael Gove told parliament.

Gove also welcomed a new commitment from EU negotiator Michel Barnier to enshrine any talks in a legal document, after Britain had accused Brussels of dragging its feet in the countdown to a potential "no deal" separation at the end of this year.

"I confirmed that the EU remains available to intensify talks in London this week, on all subjects, and based on legal texts. We now wait for the UK's reaction," Barnier tweeted as Gove was speaking, following fresh talks with his UK counterpart David Frost.&nbsp;

Gove responded: "I welcome that and obviously we need to make sure we work on the basis of the proposed intensification that they propose. I prefer to look forward in optimism rather than back in anger."

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said Monday that Brussels was ready to pursue post-Brexit trade talks on the basis of "legal texts", but was waiting for a response from London.

EU negotiator Michel Barnier said Monday that Brussels was ready to pursue post-Brexit trade talks on the basis of "legal texts", but was waiting for a response from London. The UK government, on its part, said there was no point resuming Brexit talks with the European Union without compromise from Brussels to recognise Britain's new-found sovereignty from next year. "There's no point in negotiations proceeding as long as the EU sticks with this position. Such talks will be meaningless, and will take us no nearer to finding a workable solution," senior minister Michael Gove told parliament. Gove also welcomed a new commitment from EU negotiator Michel Barnier to enshrine any talks in a legal document, after Britain had accused Brussels of dragging its feet in the countdown to a potential "no deal" separation at the end of this year. "I confirmed that the EU remains available to intensify talks in London this week, on all subjects, and based on legal texts. We now wait for the UK's reaction," Barnier tweeted as Gove was speaking, following fresh talks with his UK counterpart David Frost. Gove responded: "I welcome that and obviously we need to make sure we work on the basis of the proposed intensification that they propose. I prefer to look forward in optimism rather than back in anger."

EU is ready to negotiate. But UK says it's meaningless to resume talks

The British government said on Sunday it still wanted to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, despite deadlocked talks.

The UK had imposed a deadline of last week's EU summit for a deal &nbsp;and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was now ready to walk away and prepare for a no-deal exit, after five decades of EU membership.

However, senior minister Michael Gove said on Sunday he was still hopeful there would be an agreement, telling TV interviews the door remained "ajar" if the EU would change its position.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-says-brexit-trade-talks-are-over-unless-eu-shifts-335816">Also read:&nbsp;UK says Brexit trade talks are 'over' unless EU shifts</a>

The two sides disagree on the rules for fair competition, how these rules will be policed and how much access EU fishing fleets will get to UK waters.

Britain wants to reassert sovereignty over its waters and have no EU legal oversight over the deal -- insisting it wants a simple trade deal of the kind the EU signed with Canada.

But the EU says Britain's situation is completely different to that of Canada.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-virus-surges-and-brexit-bears-down-boris-johnson-stalls-for-time-335716">Also read:&nbsp;As virus surges and Brexit bears down, Boris Johnson stalls for time</a>

"I want a deal, I'm keen to conclude one but it takes both sides to compromise in order for there to be one. The EU is not doing so at the moment," Gove told Sky News, adding that the EU did not seem serious in their desire to reach a deal.

Chief European negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Frost are due to discuss the structure of talks on Monday, according to the European Commission.

"The ball is in his court," Gove said of Barnier.&nbsp;

Failure to strike a deal would see Britain and Europe revert to World Trade Organization terms, with higher tariffs and quotas, potentially devastating for economies already weakened by the pandemic.

The British government said on Sunday it still wanted to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, despite deadlocked talks. The UK had imposed a deadline of last week's EU summit for a deal and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was now ready to walk away and prepare for a no-deal exit, after five decades of EU membership.

The British government said on Sunday it still wanted to reach a post-Brexit trade deal with the European Union, despite deadlocked talks. The UK had imposed a deadline of last week's EU summit for a deal and Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was now ready to walk away and prepare for a no-deal exit, after five decades of EU membership. However, senior minister Michael Gove said on Sunday he was still hopeful there would be an agreement, telling TV interviews the door remained "ajar" if the EU would change its position. Also read: UK says Brexit trade talks are 'over' unless EU shifts The two sides disagree on the rules for fair competition, how these rules will be policed and how much access EU fishing fleets will get to UK waters. Britain wants to reassert sovereignty over its waters and have no EU legal oversight over the deal -- insisting it wants a simple trade deal of the kind the EU signed with Canada. But the EU says Britain's situation is completely different to that of Canada. Also read: As virus surges and Brexit bears down, Boris Johnson stalls for time "I want a deal, I'm keen to conclude one but it takes both sides to compromise in order for there to be one. The EU is not doing so at the moment," Gove told Sky News, adding that the EU did not seem serious in their desire to reach a deal. Chief European negotiator Michel Barnier and his British counterpart David Frost are due to discuss the structure of talks on Monday, according to the European Commission. "The ball is in his court," Gove said of Barnier. Failure to strike a deal would see Britain and Europe revert to World Trade Organization terms, with higher tariffs and quotas, potentially devastating for economies already weakened by the pandemic.

UK says door remains 'ajar' for post-Brexit trade deal

Europe is grappling with the second wave of coronavirus and the governments are raising to impose stricter restrictions but the question is is it too late to? Watch report.

Europe overtakes US in daily caseload: Worried Europe nations revive curfews

Coronavirus restrictions are taking effect in the Netherlands, the UK, the Czech Republic, and other parts of Europe as these nations try to reverse an alarming wave in new COVID-19 cases.

Europe reporting 100,000 COVID-19 cases per day: Second coronavirus pandemic wave

The United Kingdom is currently facing a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases - especially in England.

Owing to this, many including the opposition are calling for another shutdown in the country for two weeks. The “circuit breaker”, they claim, could save thousands of lives. This is backed by a new scientific study. But the British government continues to resist the idea of a complete lockdown.

Instead, the government opted for a three-tier system of measures to slow the spread of coronavirus. Liverpool is the first area in the country to be on the highest alert - where bars, gyms, and many other businesses continue to remain shut.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eu-pushes-uk-to-budge-at-critical-stage-in-brexit-talks-335076" hreflang="en">EU pushes UK to budge at 'critical stage' in Brexit talks</a>

In Northern Ireland, a UK territory, tough anti-coronavirus measures were announced which include the shutdown of restaurants and schools.

Many believe a short lockdown in England could sharply reduce the number of infections in the country, and would also evenly spread out the economic consequences.

The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer on Tuesday urged the government to enforce a two-three week long lockdown.&nbsp;

Many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s scientific advisors also backed the call for a complete shutdown.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/bcg-vaccine-to-be-tested-in-uk-for-effectiveness-against-covid-19-334441" hreflang="en">BCG vaccine to be tested in UK for effectiveness against COVID-19</a>

The study paints a grim picture of what’s to come in the UK: If daily deaths surpass 200 by the last week of October, at least 80,000 more Britons would be dead by the end of 2020. If a lockdown is enforced now, at least 40,000 of those lives could be saved.

"The optimal time for a break is always now; there are no good epidemiological reasons to delay the break," the study added. It was co-authored by Graham Medley, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Matt Keeling of the government's pandemic modelling subgroup also contributed to the study.

The United Kingdom is currently facing a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases - especially in England. Owing to this, many including the opposition are calling for another shutdown in the country for two weeks.

The United Kingdom is currently facing a resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases - especially in England. Owing to this, many including the opposition are calling for another shutdown in the country for two weeks. The “circuit breaker”, they claim, could save thousands of lives. This is backed by a new scientific study. But the British government continues to resist the idea of a complete lockdown. Instead, the government opted for a three-tier system of measures to slow the spread of coronavirus. Liverpool is the first area in the country to be on the highest alert - where bars, gyms, and many other businesses continue to remain shut. Also read: EU pushes UK to budge at 'critical stage' in Brexit talks In Northern Ireland, a UK territory, tough anti-coronavirus measures were announced which include the shutdown of restaurants and schools. Many believe a short lockdown in England could sharply reduce the number of infections in the country, and would also evenly spread out the economic consequences. The leader of the opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer on Tuesday urged the government to enforce a two-three week long lockdown. Many of Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s scientific advisors also backed the call for a complete shutdown. Also read: BCG vaccine to be tested in UK for effectiveness against COVID-19 The study paints a grim picture of what’s to come in the UK: If daily deaths surpass 200 by the last week of October, at least 80,000 more Britons would be dead by the end of 2020. If a lockdown is enforced now, at least 40,000 of those lives could be saved. "The optimal time for a break is always now; there are no good epidemiological reasons to delay the break," the study added. It was co-authored by Graham Medley, a member of the government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Matt Keeling of the government's pandemic modelling subgroup also contributed to the study.

UK: Study says a fresh shutdown could save at least 40,000 lives

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will on Monday impose a tiered system of further restrictions on parts of England as the COVID-19 outbreak accelerates, though anger is rising at the cost of the stringent curtailment of freedoms.

UK PM Boris Johnson to unveil three-tier lockdown plan

With coronavirus cases skyrocketing in Britain again, Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons about a three-tier lockdown plan to focus on areas where the potentially deadly virus is spreading.

Boris Johnson announces 3-tier lockdown plan in Britain

Experts in Britain have warned of a 'mass violation of rights' after 'contact-trac app' users' data collected by pubs and restaurants has reportedly been sold on to third parties.

According to The Times, contact-tracing data required by the NHS Test and Trace scheme has been harvested by tech companies on behalf of hospitality venues since they reopened in June.

The experts raised concerns that the firm might not be able to protect personal data held on its servers.

Tech Companies collecting data have reportedly created privacy policies which allow the firms to store users’ data for up to 25 years and share it with third parties.

People who have tested positive for COVID-19 use the Government’s contact tracing website to input the details of individuals they have been in contact with, so they can be asked to self-isolate.

A number of such “contact tracing” apps have recently had their trials and many of the developers readily admit that the technology has not yet proven that it can slow the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, a new Council of Europe report has identified a number of shortcomings in the protection of privacy and personal data in some of the legal and technical measures adopted by governments to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the several countries.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Experts in Britain have warned of a 'mass violation of rights' after 'contact-trac app' users' data collected by pubs and restaurants has reportedly been sold on to third parties.

Experts in Britain have warned of a 'mass violation of rights' after 'contact-trac app' users' data collected by pubs and restaurants has reportedly been sold on to third parties. According to The Times, contact-tracing data required by the NHS Test and Trace scheme has been harvested by tech companies on behalf of hospitality venues since they reopened in June. The experts raised concerns that the firm might not be able to protect personal data held on its servers. Tech Companies collecting data have reportedly created privacy policies which allow the firms to store users’ data for up to 25 years and share it with third parties. People who have tested positive for COVID-19 use the Government’s contact tracing website to input the details of individuals they have been in contact with, so they can be asked to self-isolate. A number of such “contact tracing” apps have recently had their trials and many of the developers readily admit that the technology has not yet proven that it can slow the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, a new Council of Europe report has identified a number of shortcomings in the protection of privacy and personal data in some of the legal and technical measures adopted by governments to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic among the several countries. (With inputs from agencies)

Mass violation of rights: Contact-tracing data harvested from pubs and restaurants being sold on

Britain called on China to uphold rights and freedoms guaranteed in the Sino-British Joint Declaration on Hong Kong, and maintain the independence of the former British colony's judiciary.

Global outcry over China's UNHRC candidacy, row over mistreatment of Uighurs

UK PM Boris Johnson to impose further COVID-19 restrictions

A new UK survey showed a jump in depression rates during the coronavirus pandemic, reaching 19.2% during lockdown in June.

Coronavirus Pandemic: Mental health crisis in COVID-19 lockdown

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic. BCG tuberculosis vaccine will now be tested on frontline care workers in Britain for its effectiveness against COVID-19.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to protect against tuberculosis. However, researchers are drawn towards the broad innate immune-system response the BCG vaccine elicits. This immune response is shown to protect against infection or severe illness with other respiratory pathogens.

"BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way, which may offer some protection against COVID-19," Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said.

"We are seeking to establish whether the BCG vaccine could help protect people who are at risk of COVID-19. If it does, we could save lives by administering or topping up this readily available and cost-effective vaccination."

The UK study is part of an existing Australian-led trial, which launched in April and also has arms in the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. The BCG vaccine is also being tested as a protection against COVID-19 in South Africa.

The British trial is recruiting volunteers ahead of winter months that officials have warned may be tough as the country grapples with a second wave of infections.

The trial`s UK arm, which is being run from Exeter, southwest England, is seeking to recruit 1,000 people who work in care homes and community healthcare nearby.

Meanwhile, UK is preparing to put in place a three-tier lockdown regime. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the outline on Monday.

The three-tier system is meant to clarify the patchwork of rules for England that has evolved since infection rates started to climb again in September, according to reports.

(With agency inputs)

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic.

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic. BCG tuberculosis vaccine will now be tested on frontline care workers in Britain for its effectiveness against COVID-19. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to protect against tuberculosis. However, researchers are drawn towards the broad innate immune-system response the BCG vaccine elicits. This immune response is shown to protect against infection or severe illness with other respiratory pathogens. "BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way, which may offer some protection against COVID-19," Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said. "We are seeking to establish whether the BCG vaccine could help protect people who are at risk of COVID-19. If it does, we could save lives by administering or topping up this readily available and cost-effective vaccination." The UK study is part of an existing Australian-led trial, which launched in April and also has arms in the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. The BCG vaccine is also being tested as a protection against COVID-19 in South Africa. The British trial is recruiting volunteers ahead of winter months that officials have warned may be tough as the country grapples with a second wave of infections. The trial`s UK arm, which is being run from Exeter, southwest England, is seeking to recruit 1,000 people who work in care homes and community healthcare nearby. Meanwhile, UK is preparing to put in place a three-tier lockdown regime. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the outline on Monday. The three-tier system is meant to clarify the patchwork of rules for England that has evolved since infection rates started to climb again in September, according to reports. (With agency inputs)

BCG vaccine to be tested in UK for effectiveness against COVID-19

Do you use dating apps? Then think twice before you swipe right. In the UK, victims of dating fraud have collectively lost more than $80 million to scammers. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more.

UK: Scammers loot more than $80 million on dating apps | Gravitas

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government.

Abbott -- who lost his seat in parliament at the last election -- is registered under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which is designed to monitor outside influence over Australian public life.

The scheme is similar to the United States' Foreign Agents Registration Act, and was introduced in late 2018 amid concerns about growing Chinese lobbying efforts Down Under.

"Anthony John Abbott" -- "Occupation: Former Prime Minister" -- appeared on register Friday as "an unpaid adviser to the UK Board of Trade. The role is to advocate for free and fair trade especially trade with the UK and its allies."

Abbott's 2013-2015 tenure was marked by hardline policies on illegal immigration, opposition to same-sex marriage and scepticism of man-made climate change.

His appointment prompted outrage in Britain, where he was pilloried as a "climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist" and raised questions in Australia about whether a former prime minister should work for a foreign state.

In 2014, Abbott -- an ardent monarchist -- reintroduced knights and dames to the Australian honours system, and his subsequent decision to knight Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip was met with ridicule and disbelief.

The titles have since been removed from the honours system by his successor.

Abbott's party mate, Australia's former minister of foreign affairs Alexander Downer also appears on the register, working as a trade advisor to Britain's Iberian enclave of Gibraltar.

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government.

Australia's right-wing former prime minister Tony Abbott registered as an agent of foreign influence Friday, after controversially taking up a role as a trade advisor to the UK government. Abbott -- who lost his seat in parliament at the last election -- is registered under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme, which is designed to monitor outside influence over Australian public life. The scheme is similar to the United States' Foreign Agents Registration Act, and was introduced in late 2018 amid concerns about growing Chinese lobbying efforts Down Under. "Anthony John Abbott" -- "Occupation: Former Prime Minister" -- appeared on register Friday as "an unpaid adviser to the UK Board of Trade. The role is to advocate for free and fair trade especially trade with the UK and its allies." Abbott's 2013-2015 tenure was marked by hardline policies on illegal immigration, opposition to same-sex marriage and scepticism of man-made climate change. His appointment prompted outrage in Britain, where he was pilloried as a "climate change-denying, Trump-worshipping misogynist" and raised questions in Australia about whether a former prime minister should work for a foreign state. In 2014, Abbott -- an ardent monarchist -- reintroduced knights and dames to the Australian honours system, and his subsequent decision to knight Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip was met with ridicule and disbelief. The titles have since been removed from the honours system by his successor. Abbott's party mate, Australia's former minister of foreign affairs Alexander Downer also appears on the register, working as a trade advisor to Britain's Iberian enclave of Gibraltar.

Aussie ex-PM registers as foreign agent over UK role

A British Parliamentary Defence Committee report has claimed that Huawei has colluded with the Chinese state. The UK govt had decided to snap ties Huawei in July.

UK Parliamentary Defence Committee: "Huawei colluded with the Chinese state"

A textbook in the UK has attacked Hinduism and India. The book claims that Hindus turn to terrorism to defend faith and that apparently Hinduism justifies self-defence and&nbsp;that is the reason why India has nuclear weapons.

If this sounds too much, wait till you read ahead.

Terror is an understatement when describing British colonialism.

In the year 1943, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill starved four million Indians to death which was termed as "the bengal famine". Then, in 1919, in the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, over 1,000 Indians were killed in cold blood by one British general, Reginald Dyer

In the years 1951 to 1960, during the Mau Mau uprising, Kenyans were raped and tortured in concentration camps. At least 100,000 of them are estimated to have died.

If these aren't instances of terror, what are they? The British students will not be able to answer this question because their textbooks do not get the meaning of terror. How else do you explain one British schoolbook linking Hinduism to terrorism?

A book on religious studies claims that Hinduism justifies self-defence. It says Hindus will take up arms and that's the reason why India has nuclear weapons.

Our question, then, is that why does the UK have nuclear weapons? Last we checked, it was not governed by Hindu laws, and neither is secular India.

We are still unsure if linking&nbsp;Hinduism to terrorism is weirder or&nbsp;linking Hindu scriptures to India's nuclear arsenal. This is just one of the many things wrong with the British education system. It is misleading, myopic&nbsp;and custom-made to glorify Britons vis-a-vis others.

British schools also exclude British colonialism from their syllabus. School students are not taught about the terror called British Raj.&nbsp;Their textbooks go on and on about the Nazi concentration camps, the American Civil war,&nbsp;Victorian England, episodes like the plague, the great fire of London.&nbsp;

However, the British East India company, Boer war, Jalianwala Bagh, Bengal famile and such episodes are missing from the textbooks.

These are things too uncomfortable to discuss. So, they whitewash the history and&nbsp;keep an entire country in the dark. Nearly 32 per cent of Britons are proud of their former empire,&nbsp;33 per cent think British colonies were better-off colonised and 27 per cent&nbsp;of them wish Britain still had its empire.

A textbook in the UK has attacked Hinduism and India. The book claims that Hindus turn to terrorism to defend faith and that apparently Hinduism justifies self-defence and that is the reason why India has nuclear weapons.

A textbook in the UK has attacked Hinduism and India. The book claims that Hindus turn to terrorism to defend faith and that apparently Hinduism justifies self-defence and that is the reason why India has nuclear weapons. If this sounds too much, wait till you read ahead. Terror is an understatement when describing British colonialism. In the year 1943, the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill starved four million Indians to death which was termed as "the bengal famine". Then, in 1919, in the Jalianwala Bagh massacre, over 1,000 Indians were killed in cold blood by one British general, Reginald Dyer In the years 1951 to 1960, during the Mau Mau uprising, Kenyans were raped and tortured in concentration camps. At least 100,000 of them are estimated to have died. If these aren't instances of terror, what are they? The British students will not be able to answer this question because their textbooks do not get the meaning of terror. How else do you explain one British schoolbook linking Hinduism to terrorism? A book on religious studies claims that Hinduism justifies self-defence. It says Hindus will take up arms and that's the reason why India has nuclear weapons. Our question, then, is that why does the UK have nuclear weapons? Last we checked, it was not governed by Hindu laws, and neither is secular India. We are still unsure if linking Hinduism to terrorism is weirder or linking Hindu scriptures to India's nuclear arsenal. This is just one of the many things wrong with the British education system. It is misleading, myopic and custom-made to glorify Britons vis-a-vis others. British schools also exclude British colonialism from their syllabus. School students are not taught about the terror called British Raj. Their textbooks go on and on about the Nazi concentration camps, the American Civil war, Victorian England, episodes like the plague, the great fire of London. However, the British East India company, Boer war, Jalianwala Bagh, Bengal famile and such episodes are missing from the textbooks. These are things too uncomfortable to discuss. So, they whitewash the history and keep an entire country in the dark. Nearly 32 per cent of Britons are proud of their former empire, 33 per cent think British colonies were better-off colonised and 27 per cent of them wish Britain still had its empire.

White-washing history: British school book claims Hindus justify terrorism

Britain’s financial watchdog said on Tuesday it would ban the sale to retail investors of products tracking the price of cryptoassets like Bitcoin, arguing that most people lost money on them.

UK watchdog bans Bitcoin-based products for retail investors

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that COVID-19 infections were rising in London and elsewhere, but that his government's approach to controlling the spread of the virus was still the right one.

"The local and regional approach combined with the national measures remains correct," Johnson told parliament, when asked why infections continued to rise in areas where local lockdown measures have been put in place.

Analysis presented in parliament by the opposition Labour Party showed that infection rates had risen in 19 out of 20 areas in England that are subject to additional lockdown measures.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/boris-johnson-warns-bumpy-covid-winter-mulling-three-tier-lockdown-332606" hreflang="en">Boris Johnson warns bumpy COVID winter; mulling 'three-tier lockdown'</a>

Johnson's strategy over the summer, when new nationwide infections were in the low hundreds per day, was to try to shut down localised outbreaks while reopening the wider economy. On Tuesday, Britain reported more than 15,000 new infections.

The analysis showed that in Wigan, northwest England, the infection rate, measured as the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population, had risen by 3,653% since a local lockdown was first imposed on July 30, increasing to 225 from 6.

Increases in the other areas were between 13% and 2,241%, Labour's data showed.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that COVID-19 infections were rising in London and elsewhere, but that his government's approach to controlling the spread of the virus was still the right one.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday that COVID-19 infections were rising in London and elsewhere, but that his government's approach to controlling the spread of the virus was still the right one. "The local and regional approach combined with the national measures remains correct," Johnson told parliament, when asked why infections continued to rise in areas where local lockdown measures have been put in place. Analysis presented in parliament by the opposition Labour Party showed that infection rates had risen in 19 out of 20 areas in England that are subject to additional lockdown measures. Also read: Boris Johnson warns bumpy COVID winter; mulling 'three-tier lockdown' Johnson's strategy over the summer, when new nationwide infections were in the low hundreds per day, was to try to shut down localised outbreaks while reopening the wider economy. On Tuesday, Britain reported more than 15,000 new infections. The analysis showed that in Wigan, northwest England, the infection rate, measured as the number of confirmed cases per 100,000 population, had risen by 3,653% since a local lockdown was first imposed on July 30, increasing to 225 from 6. Increases in the other areas were between 13% and 2,241%, Labour's data showed.

UK PM Johnson says COVID cases rising but lockdown approach correct

Financial authority in the UK on Tuesday banned some cryptocurrency-based products in order to safeguard retail consumers. From next year, firms in UK will not be able to sell, market or distribute products that track prices of crypto-assets. This covers futures, options, exchange-traded notes and contracts-for-difference. Although analysts believe that the decision will not affect the actual sale of cryptocurrencies, the online trading platforms for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ripple and Ether among others are expected to get a hit.

UK's Financial Conduct Authority said that it has taken the decision to safeguard retail consumers as they are exposed to unexpected financial losses due to unregulated crypto-assets. Volatility and unreliable valuations add to retail consumers' woes.

The latest decision by the FCA came a year after it actually proposed such a ban. The authority took a review of the situation in its analysis that went on for a year.

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Soon after the decision of the FCA, shares in the online trading platform fell by 2-3 per cent.

Cryptocurrencies have attracted a lot of interest from investors all around the globe in recent years. According to an estimate, the cryptocurrency market is worth around USD 337 billion. It was worth USD 200 billion just 2 years ago.

Financial authority in the UK on Tuesday banned some cryptocurrency-based products in order to safeguard retail consumers. From next year, firms in UK will not be able to sell, market or distribute products that track prices of crypto-assets.

Financial authority in the UK on Tuesday banned some cryptocurrency-based products in order to safeguard retail consumers. From next year, firms in UK will not be able to sell, market or distribute products that track prices of crypto-assets. This covers futures, options, exchange-traded notes and contracts-for-difference. Although analysts believe that the decision will not affect the actual sale of cryptocurrencies, the online trading platforms for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ripple and Ether among others are expected to get a hit. UK's Financial Conduct Authority said that it has taken the decision to safeguard retail consumers as they are exposed to unexpected financial losses due to unregulated crypto-assets. Volatility and unreliable valuations add to retail consumers' woes. The latest decision by the FCA came a year after it actually proposed such a ban. The authority took a review of the situation in its analysis that went on for a year. × Soon after the decision of the FCA, shares in the online trading platform fell by 2-3 per cent. Cryptocurrencies have attracted a lot of interest from investors all around the globe in recent years. According to an estimate, the cryptocurrency market is worth around USD 337 billion. It was worth USD 200 billion just 2 years ago.

Cryptocurrency products banned in UK after year-long review

Cornwall, in England’s far southwest, is known for antique fishing villages and snug, cliff-lined beaches. Soon it may be the scene of something very different: a small but growing space industry.

One day in a year or two, a modified Boeing 747 is expected to lift off from the long runway at the region’s airport, head out over the Atlantic Ocean and soar into the stratosphere. There, a rocket will drop from below a wing, fire its engines and ferry a load of small satellites into orbit, while the plane returns to the airport.

After six years of planning and fundraising, construction of a bare-bones spaceport, budgeted at about 22 million pounds ($28 million), is beginning this month at the airport in Newquay.

The anchor tenant is expected to be Virgin Orbit, a part of Richard Branson’s Virgin universe. Its selling point: Putting satellites into orbit via aircraft can be done faster and with less infrastructure than earthbound rockets. It plans to bring its 747 (called the Cosmic Girl) and other gear being tested in the Mojave Desert to Britain with the help of 7.35 million pounds from the U.K. Space Agency.

“At the beginning, people laughed at us,” said Melissa Thorpe, head of engagement for Spaceport Cornwall, the developer. “It took a lot of work to convince a lot of people.”

Among the better arguments: The spaceport, which is owned by the local government, could eventually provide 150 good jobs in what, despite its charm, is a region dependent on low-paid, seasonal work from tourism.

Britain is doubling down on the always risky space business after, some would say, years of neglect. Besides Cornwall, the government is putting money behind several other potential launch sites, including one on the remote north coast of Scotland, which is being tailored for an environmentally friendly rocket to be manufactured nearby.

This is all new for a country that does not have a deep history of rocketry or launching satellites into space. The case for spaceports in Britain is far from proven. In fact, some analysts say there are already too many such facilities, including in the United States.

The first — and, to date, only — British-made satellite-bearing rocket was launched from Woomera in Australia in 1971. That program, called Black Arrow, was scrapped after four launches for not being cost effective.

“You do have to pinch yourself that the U.K is within a few years of launching satellites,” said Doug Millard, space curator at the Science Museum in London. “That is something that never would have been considered not so long ago.”

A big reason for the turnaround is Brexit. The decision to pull away from the European Union has heightened awareness that Britain, which has largely relied on European and American space programs for services like satellite navigation, would be at risk without its own space infrastructure. This year the space agency’s budget was bumped up 10% to 556 million pounds (still a small fraction of NASA’s $22 billion).

Brexit has provided “a real stimulus to get us to think about what we actually need as a country in space,” said Graham Turnock, chief executive of the U.K. Space Agency.

But the decision to look skyward also coincides with the growing commercial use of space around the world, promoted by deep-pocketed investors like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Branson, but also pushed along by a range of less prominent entrepreneurs and businesses.

Key has been the emergence of much smaller and cheaper satellites, some the size of a shoe box and costing a relatively small $1 million or less. Some are used for observation, such as measuring how much oil is stored in a tank farm, valuable data for energy investors. Others are planned to provide internet connectivity on earth and a key link in the burgeoning Internet of Things, essential for self-driving cars and smart kitchens.

“We are right at the beginning of this journey,” said Mark Boggett, chief executive of London-based Seraphim Capital, which is managing a $90 million space fund.

The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson put its own chips on such efforts by agreeing in July to spend 500 million pounds to acquire 45% of OneWeb, a satellite operator.

OneWeb filed for bankruptcy this year, but is involved in the hottest area of the satellite industry: the creation of so-called constellations, blizzards of coordinated satellites in low orbit, designed to provide blanket coverage for purposes like extending the internet to remote regions.

OneWeb is building its satellites at a factory co-owned by Airbus in Florida. The hope in the British government and space community is that OneWeb will build a future generation of satellites in Britain.

Overall, the government is trying to support activity in what is known as “new space,” a more agile and commercial approach to an industry traditionally dominated by government and military programs.

“OneWeb, and what we are doing on launch, is all about taking a really big role in that new economy,” Turnock said.

While Britain has participated in prestigious space activities like making a Mars rover for an upcoming European-Russian mission, it has catching up to do. Still, space experts say the direction the industry is moving could play to its advantage.

The launch vehicles that Britain is trying to nurture would be suited for smaller satellites that operate in low-Earth orbit, around 800 miles up, compared with about 22,000 miles for telecommunications giants that sometimes cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

Smaller satellites also have much shorter life spans than the larger ones, implying the need for more of them, and more launches. Virgin Orbit says it plans to charge $12 million to take a nearly 700-pound payload of satellites into space.

Having nearby launch sites will fill a need for companies like In-Space Missions, a space service firm in Hampshire, outside London. Doug Liddle, the chief executive, said the company went all the way to New Zealand to launch a satellite this year, only to lose it when the rocket failed.

The new space economy is also more affordable for medium-size countries like Britain.

“The small-satellite approach now means we are not going to spend our entire national budget on our space program,” said Martin Sweeting, a founder and executive chairman of a British university spinoff called Surrey Satellite Technology, a pioneer in small satellites.

Space is also becoming far more accessible to startups like Open Cosmos, which offers to build satellites and arrange their launch and early operation at a cost of $10 million or less. The company is one of many technology businesses clustered in Harwell, a community near the University of Oxford.

Among the neighbors are clients like Lacuna Space, which plans to deploy satellites for a range of uses like tracking cattle on vast Latin American ranches, and potential suppliers like Oxford Space Systems, which builds satellite-mounted antennas that unfurl once in orbit to send data to ground receivers.

“It is a small ecosystem. Everybody knows each other,” said Rafel Jordá Siquier, 31, founder of Open Cosmos.

But not all the companies are startups. Airbus, the giant French maker of commercial aircraft, is also a major manufacturer of satellites and employs 3,500 people doing space work in Britain.

The company had been nervous about Brexit’s implications for those operations, but the government’s move into OneWeb offered some reassurance.

“The investment in OneWeb and focus of the U.K. on space is actually making Airbus go, ‘Look, the U.K. is a really good place to invest,’” said Richard Franklin, head of space and defense for Britain at Airbus.

That said, Britain’s ambitions face large unknowns and risks.

The launch technologies it is counting on are unproven. Virgin Orbit’s first test this year in the United States sputtered when the main rocket engine shut down. And the coronavirus pandemic has put huge financial strain on Branson’s empire, including the flagship, Virgin Atlantic. To help bolster the finances of the airline and other companies, the entrepreneur sold around $500 million of shares in Virgin Galactic, a space tourism business.

But Will Pomerantz, Virgin Orbit’s vice president for special projects, said the 747 would come to Cornwall “when they are ready and they need us.”

The satellite market is also both competitive and turbulent. Musk, Tesla’s founder, whose SpaceX has carried U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and returned them safely to Earth, is building his own mega constellation satellite system, Starlink. Other technology companies are likely to follow, while many countries can now build satellites.

“One of the beautiful things about small sats is that anyone can make one,” said Alexandre Najjar, senior consultant at Euroconsult, a market research firm.

Still, Britain’s space entrepreneurs say having a launchpad near home might give them an edge.

”If we can get in a van and drive our spacecraft up to Scotland or Cornwall, the whole process becomes much more straightforward,” said Liddle, the satellite builder.

Cornwall, in England’s far southwest, is known for antique fishing villages and snug, cliff-lined beaches. Soon it may be the scene of something very different: a small but growing space industry.

Cornwall, in England’s far southwest, is known for antique fishing villages and snug, cliff-lined beaches. Soon it may be the scene of something very different: a small but growing space industry. One day in a year or two, a modified Boeing 747 is expected to lift off from the long runway at the region’s airport, head out over the Atlantic Ocean and soar into the stratosphere. There, a rocket will drop from below a wing, fire its engines and ferry a load of small satellites into orbit, while the plane returns to the airport. After six years of planning and fundraising, construction of a bare-bones spaceport, budgeted at about 22 million pounds ($28 million), is beginning this month at the airport in Newquay. The anchor tenant is expected to be Virgin Orbit, a part of Richard Branson’s Virgin universe. Its selling point: Putting satellites into orbit via aircraft can be done faster and with less infrastructure than earthbound rockets. It plans to bring its 747 (called the Cosmic Girl) and other gear being tested in the Mojave Desert to Britain with the help of 7.35 million pounds from the U.K. Space Agency. “At the beginning, people laughed at us,” said Melissa Thorpe, head of engagement for Spaceport Cornwall, the developer. “It took a lot of work to convince a lot of people.” Among the better arguments: The spaceport, which is owned by the local government, could eventually provide 150 good jobs in what, despite its charm, is a region dependent on low-paid, seasonal work from tourism. Britain is doubling down on the always risky space business after, some would say, years of neglect. Besides Cornwall, the government is putting money behind several other potential launch sites, including one on the remote north coast of Scotland, which is being tailored for an environmentally friendly rocket to be manufactured nearby. This is all new for a country that does not have a deep history of rocketry or launching satellites into space. The case for spaceports in Britain is far from proven. In fact, some analysts say there are already too many such facilities, including in the United States. The first — and, to date, only — British-made satellite-bearing rocket was launched from Woomera in Australia in 1971. That program, called Black Arrow, was scrapped after four launches for not being cost effective. “You do have to pinch yourself that the U.K is within a few years of launching satellites,” said Doug Millard, space curator at the Science Museum in London. “That is something that never would have been considered not so long ago.” A big reason for the turnaround is Brexit. The decision to pull away from the European Union has heightened awareness that Britain, which has largely relied on European and American space programs for services like satellite navigation, would be at risk without its own space infrastructure. This year the space agency’s budget was bumped up 10% to 556 million pounds (still a small fraction of NASA’s $22 billion). Brexit has provided “a real stimulus to get us to think about what we actually need as a country in space,” said Graham Turnock, chief executive of the U.K. Space Agency. But the decision to look skyward also coincides with the growing commercial use of space around the world, promoted by deep-pocketed investors like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Branson, but also pushed along by a range of less prominent entrepreneurs and businesses. Key has been the emergence of much smaller and cheaper satellites, some the size of a shoe box and costing a relatively small $1 million or less. Some are used for observation, such as measuring how much oil is stored in a tank farm, valuable data for energy investors. Others are planned to provide internet connectivity on earth and a key link in the burgeoning Internet of Things, essential for self-driving cars and smart kitchens. “We are right at the beginning of this journey,” said Mark Boggett, chief executive of London-based Seraphim Capital, which is managing a $90 million space fund. The government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson put its own chips on such efforts by agreeing in July to spend 500 million pounds to acquire 45% of OneWeb, a satellite operator. OneWeb filed for bankruptcy this year, but is involved in the hottest area of the satellite industry: the creation of so-called constellations, blizzards of coordinated satellites in low orbit, designed to provide blanket coverage for purposes like extending the internet to remote regions. OneWeb is building its satellites at a factory co-owned by Airbus in Florida. The hope in the British government and space community is that OneWeb will build a future generation of satellites in Britain. Overall, the government is trying to support activity in what is known as “new space,” a more agile and commercial approach to an industry traditionally dominated by government and military programs. “OneWeb, and what we are doing on launch, is all about taking a really big role in that new economy,” Turnock said. While Britain has participated in prestigious space activities like making a Mars rover for an upcoming European-Russian mission, it has catching up to do. Still, space experts say the direction the industry is moving could play to its advantage. The launch vehicles that Britain is trying to nurture would be suited for smaller satellites that operate in low-Earth orbit, around 800 miles up, compared with about 22,000 miles for telecommunications giants that sometimes cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Smaller satellites also have much shorter life spans than the larger ones, implying the need for more of them, and more launches. Virgin Orbit says it plans to charge $12 million to take a nearly 700-pound payload of satellites into space. Having nearby launch sites will fill a need for companies like In-Space Missions, a space service firm in Hampshire, outside London. Doug Liddle, the chief executive, said the company went all the way to New Zealand to launch a satellite this year, only to lose it when the rocket failed. The new space economy is also more affordable for medium-size countries like Britain. “The small-satellite approach now means we are not going to spend our entire national budget on our space program,” said Martin Sweeting, a founder and executive chairman of a British university spinoff called Surrey Satellite Technology, a pioneer in small satellites. Space is also becoming far more accessible to startups like Open Cosmos, which offers to build satellites and arrange their launch and early operation at a cost of $10 million or less. The company is one of many technology businesses clustered in Harwell, a community near the University of Oxford. Among the neighbors are clients like Lacuna Space, which plans to deploy satellites for a range of uses like tracking cattle on vast Latin American ranches, and potential suppliers like Oxford Space Systems, which builds satellite-mounted antennas that unfurl once in orbit to send data to ground receivers. “It is a small ecosystem. Everybody knows each other,” said Rafel Jordá Siquier, 31, founder of Open Cosmos. But not all the companies are startups. Airbus, the giant French maker of commercial aircraft, is also a major manufacturer of satellites and employs 3,500 people doing space work in Britain. The company had been nervous about Brexit’s implications for those operations, but the government’s move into OneWeb offered some reassurance. “The investment in OneWeb and focus of the U.K. on space is actually making Airbus go, ‘Look, the U.K. is a really good place to invest,’” said Richard Franklin, head of space and defense for Britain at Airbus. That said, Britain’s ambitions face large unknowns and risks. The launch technologies it is counting on are unproven. Virgin Orbit’s first test this year in the United States sputtered when the main rocket engine shut down. And the coronavirus pandemic has put huge financial strain on Branson’s empire, including the flagship, Virgin Atlantic. To help bolster the finances of the airline and other companies, the entrepreneur sold around $500 million of shares in Virgin Galactic, a space tourism business. But Will Pomerantz, Virgin Orbit’s vice president for special projects, said the 747 would come to Cornwall “when they are ready and they need us.” The satellite market is also both competitive and turbulent. Musk, Tesla’s founder, whose SpaceX has carried U.S. astronauts to the International Space Station and returned them safely to Earth, is building his own mega constellation satellite system, Starlink. Other technology companies are likely to follow, while many countries can now build satellites. “One of the beautiful things about small sats is that anyone can make one,” said Alexandre Najjar, senior consultant at Euroconsult, a market research firm. Still, Britain’s space entrepreneurs say having a launchpad near home might give them an edge. ”If we can get in a van and drive our spacecraft up to Scotland or Cornwall, the whole process becomes much more straightforward,” said Liddle, the satellite builder.

Britain is getting ready for its space race

UK government might have plans to impose the stricter 'red alert' lockdowns under the proposed ‘three-tier system’ that seeks to ban all outdoor social gatherings

UK planning strict 'three-tier' lockdown to curb COVID-19 spread

Northumbria University has said that 770 students have tested positive for coronavirus. Just 78 of them were displaying symptoms. Watch report.

Major outbreak at Northumbria University: 78 out of 770 students symptomatic

Indian-origin billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa are set to acquire a majority stake in the leading UK supermarket chain Asda from its US owner Walmart after a USD 8.8-billion deal was struck as part of a consortium involving private equity firm TDR Capital.

The Issa brothers, whose parents moved to the UK from Gujarat in the 1970s, own the Euro Garages chain of petrol stations as part of their EG Group business.

The supermarket deal, valued at around 6.8-billion pounds (USD 8.8-billion), follows an auction process for Asda over several months and returns the 71-year-old supermarket company back into British ownership after 21 years, a development welcomed by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak.

"Great to see Asda returning to majority UK ownership for the first time in two decades today," Mr Sunak said on Twitter.

"The new owners have already committed to investing over GBP 1 billion in the next three years and increasing the proportion of UK-based suppliers. I wish them the best of luck," he said.

Announcing the deal, Walmart said Asda would keep its headquarters in Leeds in northern England, with chief executive Roger Burnley continuing to be in charge.

"We are very proud to be investing in Asda, an iconic British business that we have admired for many years. Asda's customer-centric philosophy, focus on operational excellence and commitment to the communities in which it operates are the same values that we have built EG Group on," Mohsin and Zuber Issa said in a statement.

The brothers, born in Blackburn in north-west England, pledged support for the long-term growth of the supermarket as they praised the chain's performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the "fundamental strength and resilience" of the business.

"We believe that our experience with EG Group, including our expertise around convenience and brand partnerships and our successful partnership with TDR Capital, can help to accelerate and execute that growth strategy.

"After a successful period as part of Walmart, we are looking forward to helping Asda build a differentiated business that will continue to serve customers brilliantly in communities across the UK," they said.

Robert Burnley welcomed the new ownership as an exciting new chapter and committed to delivering value to customers.

"In a constantly changing retailing environment, our new ownership will further enhance our resilience, whilst creating significant, additional opportunities to drive growth. For Asda colleagues, a strong and growing business is important for our long-term future," said Mr Burnley.

Walmart retains an equity investment in the business with an ongoing commercial relationship and a seat on the board.

The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021.

Indian-origin billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa are set to acquire a majority stake in the leading UK supermarket chain Asda from its US owner Walmart after a USD 8.

Indian-origin billionaire brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa are set to acquire a majority stake in the leading UK supermarket chain Asda from its US owner Walmart after a USD 8.8-billion deal was struck as part of a consortium involving private equity firm TDR Capital. The Issa brothers, whose parents moved to the UK from Gujarat in the 1970s, own the Euro Garages chain of petrol stations as part of their EG Group business. The supermarket deal, valued at around 6.8-billion pounds (USD 8.8-billion), follows an auction process for Asda over several months and returns the 71-year-old supermarket company back into British ownership after 21 years, a development welcomed by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak. "Great to see Asda returning to majority UK ownership for the first time in two decades today," Mr Sunak said on Twitter. "The new owners have already committed to investing over GBP 1 billion in the next three years and increasing the proportion of UK-based suppliers. I wish them the best of luck," he said. Announcing the deal, Walmart said Asda would keep its headquarters in Leeds in northern England, with chief executive Roger Burnley continuing to be in charge. "We are very proud to be investing in Asda, an iconic British business that we have admired for many years. Asda's customer-centric philosophy, focus on operational excellence and commitment to the communities in which it operates are the same values that we have built EG Group on," Mohsin and Zuber Issa said in a statement. The brothers, born in Blackburn in north-west England, pledged support for the long-term growth of the supermarket as they praised the chain's performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the "fundamental strength and resilience" of the business. "We believe that our experience with EG Group, including our expertise around convenience and brand partnerships and our successful partnership with TDR Capital, can help to accelerate and execute that growth strategy. "After a successful period as part of Walmart, we are looking forward to helping Asda build a differentiated business that will continue to serve customers brilliantly in communities across the UK," they said. Robert Burnley welcomed the new ownership as an exciting new chapter and committed to delivering value to customers. "In a constantly changing retailing environment, our new ownership will further enhance our resilience, whilst creating significant, additional opportunities to drive growth. For Asda colleagues, a strong and growing business is important for our long-term future," said Mr Burnley. Walmart retains an equity investment in the business with an ongoing commercial relationship and a seat on the board. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in the first half of 2021.

Indian-origin billionaire brothers win bid to buy UK supermarket chain

A British judge said on Thursday that she would give her decision on extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to US early next year. In the US, Assange may face charges including espionage. Assange faces accuasations from US authorities of conspiring to hack government computers and violating espionage law in connection with the release of confidential cables. These cables were leaked by Wikileaks in 2010-2011.

Assange's lawyer say that the charges against the Australian-born are politically motivated. They also say that Assange's mental health is at risk and that conditions of US prisons are in violation of Britain's human rights laws. They also allege that Julian Assange and his lawyers were spied on while he was in Ecuaorian embassy in the UK.

The legal team representing the United States have countered that many of those arguments are issues which should be addressed in a trial, and have no bearing on extradition.

Judge Vanessa Baraitser told London`s Old Bailey Court at the conclusion of hearings from witnesses in the case that she would deliver her verdict on January 4.

(With Reuters inputs)

A British judge said on Thursday that she would give her decision on extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to US early next year. In the US, Assange may face charges including espionage.

A British judge said on Thursday that she would give her decision on extradition of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to US early next year. In the US, Assange may face charges including espionage. Assange faces accuasations from US authorities of conspiring to hack government computers and violating espionage law in connection with the release of confidential cables. These cables were leaked by Wikileaks in 2010-2011. Assange's lawyer say that the charges against the Australian-born are politically motivated. They also say that Assange's mental health is at risk and that conditions of US prisons are in violation of Britain's human rights laws. They also allege that Julian Assange and his lawyers were spied on while he was in Ecuaorian embassy in the UK. The legal team representing the United States have countered that many of those arguments are issues which should be addressed in a trial, and have no bearing on extradition. Judge Vanessa Baraitser told London`s Old Bailey Court at the conclusion of hearings from witnesses in the case that she would deliver her verdict on January 4. (With Reuters inputs)

Julian Assange US extradition: UK judge to give verdict early next year

The British government tightened restrictions on socialising in parts of northeast England in response to high and increasing COVID-19 infection rates in the region.

WION Dispatch: UK govt imposes new COVID restrictions, ban on indoor meeting in Liverpool

UK is hit by COVID-19 lockdowns and its economy has suffered a record collapse of economic output in the second quarter of this year. Watch report.

UK's biggest GDF fall since 1955: Current account deficiet 0.6% of GDP

The United Kingdm has decided to impose a ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in every commercial establishment from the month of October.

As per the new rule, all sales and distribution for&nbsp;single-use plastic items will be banned, starting from October 01. This also includes ban on supplying these items to the customers in restaurants, cafes and bars.

Boris Johnson-led government has, however, added exemptions for people with special needs or the people who medically require these items.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-to-speak-on-covid-19-as-anger-mounts-towards-curbs-331392">Also read:&nbsp;UK PM Johnson to speak on COVID-19 as anger mounts towards curbs</a>

The rule has been implemented to tackle the problem of climate change and global warming — a topic due to which various small-scale protests took place in the country.

"The ban on straws, stirrers and cotton buds is just the next step in our battle against plastic pollution and our pledge to protect our ocean and the environment for future generations.

"We are already a world-leader in this global effort. Our five-pence charge on single-use plastic bags has successfully cut sales by 95% in the main supermarkets, we have banned microbeads, and we are building plans for a deposit return scheme to drive up the recycling of single-use drinks containers."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-starts-shutting-down-britain-again-as-coronavirus-spreads-329383">Also read:&nbsp;Boris Johnson starts shutting down Britain again as coronavirus spreads</a>

The ban was to come into place from April. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government was unable to&nbsp; impose the ban and negatively affect the already suffering supply chain.

However, from October, it has been made illegal to hand out single-use plastic items to customers.

Pandemic waste

While the environmentalists are happy with the new rule, they worry that new threat to the environment is the new threat to the human kind — COVID-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the waste generated due to the discarded face masks and the single-use PPE kits.

The environmentalists claim that while they understand the dangers of the situation, they hope people will follow proper steps to discard the pandemic waste, rather than littering on streets or water bodies.

The United Kingdm has decided to impose a ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in every commercial establishment from the month of October. As per the new rule, all sales and distribution for single-use plastic items will be banned, starting from October 01.

The United Kingdm has decided to impose a ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers in every commercial establishment from the month of October. As per the new rule, all sales and distribution for single-use plastic items will be banned, starting from October 01. This also includes ban on supplying these items to the customers in restaurants, cafes and bars. Boris Johnson-led government has, however, added exemptions for people with special needs or the people who medically require these items. Also read: UK PM Johnson to speak on COVID-19 as anger mounts towards curbs The rule has been implemented to tackle the problem of climate change and global warming — a topic due to which various small-scale protests took place in the country. "The ban on straws, stirrers and cotton buds is just the next step in our battle against plastic pollution and our pledge to protect our ocean and the environment for future generations. "We are already a world-leader in this global effort. Our five-pence charge on single-use plastic bags has successfully cut sales by 95% in the main supermarkets, we have banned microbeads, and we are building plans for a deposit return scheme to drive up the recycling of single-use drinks containers." Also read: Boris Johnson starts shutting down Britain again as coronavirus spreads The ban was to come into place from April. However, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the UK government was unable to impose the ban and negatively affect the already suffering supply chain. However, from October, it has been made illegal to hand out single-use plastic items to customers. Pandemic waste While the environmentalists are happy with the new rule, they worry that new threat to the environment is the new threat to the human kind — COVID-19. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a significant increase in the waste generated due to the discarded face masks and the single-use PPE kits. The environmentalists claim that while they understand the dangers of the situation, they hope people will follow proper steps to discard the pandemic waste, rather than littering on streets or water bodies.

UK: Plastic straws, cotton buds and stirrers banned after months of delay

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