Britain on Friday advised its citizens to flee Myanmar, as a UN expert warned the junta is likely committing "crimes against humanity" in its attempt to stay in power.

The military authorities are cracking down with increasing severity on daily protests against their February 1 coup, with at least 70 people killed according to the UN's top rights expert on the country.

The turmoil prompted Britain, the country's former colonial ruler, to urge its citizens to get out if they could, warning that "political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising".&nbsp;

"The Foreign, Commonwealth &amp; Development Office advises British nationals to leave the country by commercial means, unless there is an urgent need to stay," the British foreign ministry said.

The move comes after Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, gave a stark assessment of the crisis.&nbsp;

The country is "controlled by a murderous, illegal regime" that was likely committing "crimes against humanity," Andrews told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

These crimes likely include "acts of murder, enforced disappearance, persecution, torture" carried out with "the knowledge of senior leadership", including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, Andrews said.

While stressing that such offences can only be determined in a court of law, he said there was clear evidence that the junta's crimes were "widespread" and part of a "coordinated campaign".

Thursday saw at least nine protesters killed in different parts of the country, including six in central Myanmar's Myaing township -- five of them shot in the head, according to a witness.

Rights group Amnesty International released a major report on the crisis on Thursday, accusing the junta of using battlefield weapons on unarmed protestors and carrying out premeditated killings.

- China calls for 'de-escalation' -

International pressure has been building on the generals, but they have shown no signs of heeding calls for restraint, continuing to try to quell daily protests by force.

The United Nations on Wednesday condemned the crackdown, which has seen more than 2,000 arrested, with even traditional Myanmar ally China calling for "de-escalation" and dialogue.

The military -- which defends its takeover by citing alleged voting irregularities in November elections won by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party -- held a rare news conference on Thursday accusing her of corruption.

Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the detained chief minister of Yangon admitted giving Suu Kyi $600,000 in cash, along with more than 11 kilograms ($680,000 worth) of gold.

Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, detained since the coup, faces other criminal charges including owning unlicensed walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions by staging a campaign event in 2020.

On Thursday state-run media announced that the Arakan Army (AA) -- which fights for autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine people in northern Rakhine state -- was no longer considered a terrorist organisation.

Observers say the move indicates the military is trying to avoid spreading itself too thinly, aiming to concentrate its forces on quelling the protests.

The AA has been fighting the army for years, with hundreds killed and some 200,000 civilians forced to flee their homes.

As well as using tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to break up street protests, the military authorities have also carried out regular night raids, searching apartments and making arrests after dark.

Britain on Friday advised its citizens to flee Myanmar, as a UN expert warned the junta is likely committing "crimes against humanity" in its attempt to stay in power.

Britain on Friday advised its citizens to flee Myanmar, as a UN expert warned the junta is likely committing "crimes against humanity" in its attempt to stay in power. The military authorities are cracking down with increasing severity on daily protests against their February 1 coup, with at least 70 people killed according to the UN's top rights expert on the country. The turmoil prompted Britain, the country's former colonial ruler, to urge its citizens to get out if they could, warning that "political tension and unrest are widespread since the military takeover and levels of violence are rising". "The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises British nationals to leave the country by commercial means, unless there is an urgent need to stay," the British foreign ministry said. The move comes after Thomas Andrews, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, gave a stark assessment of the crisis. The country is "controlled by a murderous, illegal regime" that was likely committing "crimes against humanity," Andrews told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. These crimes likely include "acts of murder, enforced disappearance, persecution, torture" carried out with "the knowledge of senior leadership", including junta leader Min Aung Hlaing, Andrews said. While stressing that such offences can only be determined in a court of law, he said there was clear evidence that the junta's crimes were "widespread" and part of a "coordinated campaign". Thursday saw at least nine protesters killed in different parts of the country, including six in central Myanmar's Myaing township -- five of them shot in the head, according to a witness. Rights group Amnesty International released a major report on the crisis on Thursday, accusing the junta of using battlefield weapons on unarmed protestors and carrying out premeditated killings. - China calls for 'de-escalation' - International pressure has been building on the generals, but they have shown no signs of heeding calls for restraint, continuing to try to quell daily protests by force. The United Nations on Wednesday condemned the crackdown, which has seen more than 2,000 arrested, with even traditional Myanmar ally China calling for "de-escalation" and dialogue. The military -- which defends its takeover by citing alleged voting irregularities in November elections won by civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party -- held a rare news conference on Thursday accusing her of corruption. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun said the detained chief minister of Yangon admitted giving Suu Kyi $600,000 in cash, along with more than 11 kilograms ($680,000 worth) of gold. Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi, detained since the coup, faces other criminal charges including owning unlicensed walkie-talkies and violating coronavirus restrictions by staging a campaign event in 2020. On Thursday state-run media announced that the Arakan Army (AA) -- which fights for autonomy for the ethnic Rakhine people in northern Rakhine state -- was no longer considered a terrorist organisation. Observers say the move indicates the military is trying to avoid spreading itself too thinly, aiming to concentrate its forces on quelling the protests. The AA has been fighting the army for years, with hundreds killed and some 200,000 civilians forced to flee their homes. As well as using tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to break up street protests, the military authorities have also carried out regular night raids, searching apartments and making arrests after dark.

Britain tells citizens to exit Myanmar, UN warns of 'crimes against humanity'

Industry group Make UK said that three out of every four British manufacturers have experienced Brexit-linked delays during the past three months and the government must sort out problems that are still affecting ports.

World Business Watch: Three-quarters of UK manufacturers hit by Brexit delays

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea.

France had banned all travel from outside the EU in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure had been adopted in large part to limit the spread of the more infectious variant of Covid-19 that first emerged in England.

But due to the changing pandemic situation, "it will no longer be necessary to prove a compelling reason for travel to or from Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Travellers from these seven countries will still need to present negative COVID-19 test result. The test should have been taken a maximum of 72 hours beforehand.

Travel to other countries outside the EU still remains limited to essential reasons but the foreign ministry said the number of exemptions are being increased to allow couples to reunite and children to attend school.

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea.

France on Thursday eased travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK. Other countries include Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea. France had banned all travel from outside the EU in view of the coronavirus pandemic. The measure had been adopted in large part to limit the spread of the more infectious variant of Covid-19 that first emerged in England. But due to the changing pandemic situation, "it will no longer be necessary to prove a compelling reason for travel to or from Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Travellers from these seven countries will still need to present negative COVID-19 test result. The test should have been taken a maximum of 72 hours beforehand. Travel to other countries outside the EU still remains limited to essential reasons but the foreign ministry said the number of exemptions are being increased to allow couples to reunite and children to attend school.

France eases travel restrictions for 7 non-EU countries including UK

A new study has found that a highly infectious variant of COVID-19 first discovered in the United Kingdom is between 30 to 100 per cent more deadly than previous strains.

Study finds UK COVID-19 variant has higher mortality rate

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers.&nbsp;

Sarah Everard, 33, was last seen at 2130 GMT on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in south London.&nbsp;

Police said the officer, who is in his 40s and works for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was in custody after being detained on Tuesday evening. He is also under suspicion of indecent exposure.&nbsp;

A woman in her 30s was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender.&nbsp;

The London force said the officer, whose job it was to carry out uniformed patrols of diplomatic premises, had not been on duty the night Everard disappeared.&nbsp;

"The arrest this evening is a serious and significant development," Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said.&nbsp;

"We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing."&nbsp;

Police have launched an extensive investigation to find Everard, with officers searching streets and nearby areas on her route home, that went near the large grassy Clapham Common area.&nbsp;

Officers are also searching locations in Kent, southeast of London, including a property in the seaside town of Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford.&nbsp;

Asked by reporters if Everard was still alive on Wednesday, Ephgrave said, "We are searching as hard as we can to find Sarah so we really hope that is the case."&nbsp;

He said he could not give further details on whether the pair knew each other, or how long the man had been a police officer for. The organisation charged with policing the conduct of officers is aware of the arrest.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers.

A British police officer, whose job was to guard diplomatic buildings, has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder over the disappearance of a woman last seen a week ago, a development described as disturbing by senior officers. Sarah Everard, 33, was last seen at 2130 GMT on March 3 as she walked home from a friend's house in south London. Police said the officer, who is in his 40s and works for the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, was in custody after being detained on Tuesday evening. He is also under suspicion of indecent exposure. A woman in her 30s was also arrested at the same location on suspicion of assisting an offender. The London force said the officer, whose job it was to carry out uniformed patrols of diplomatic premises, had not been on duty the night Everard disappeared. "The arrest this evening is a serious and significant development," Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said. "We will continue to work with all speed on this investigation but the fact that the arrested man is a serving Metropolitan Police officer is both shocking and deeply disturbing." Police have launched an extensive investigation to find Everard, with officers searching streets and nearby areas on her route home, that went near the large grassy Clapham Common area. Officers are also searching locations in Kent, southeast of London, including a property in the seaside town of Deal and an area of woodland near Ashford. Asked by reporters if Everard was still alive on Wednesday, Ephgrave said, "We are searching as hard as we can to find Sarah so we really hope that is the case." He said he could not give further details on whether the pair knew each other, or how long the man had been a police officer for. The organisation charged with policing the conduct of officers is aware of the arrest. (With inputs from agencies)

Serving UK police officer held for murder of missing woman 

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) to revoke its decision of fining Chinese broadcaster CGTN. Ofcom has imposed over $300,000 fine on CGTN.

China urges Ofcom to revoke fine on CGTN

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

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

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

Gravitas: British parliament debates on Indian farmers

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

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

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

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

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

UK, EU at loggerheads over Covid vaccine

UK rejects 'false' vaccine export ban claim by EU

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

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

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

Britain's healthcare workers recount COVID horror

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After coronavirus, Britain faces royal affair challenge 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

After 2 months of home learning UK students back to school

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Reports say UK could join the historic Quad in new alliance

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

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

British-Iranian aid worker Zaghari-Ratcliffe freed by Tehran

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

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

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

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

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