British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said scientific advances can be used to battle climate change, a challenge which he described as being "far worse, far more destructive than coronavirus". 
 
Johnson made the remarks while speaking at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit co-convened by the United Nations, Britain, and France, in partnership with Chile and Italy, Xinhua reported. 
 
The Prime Minister hailed a new era of "scientific optimism" as the year comes to the end. 
 
"We are coming to the end of an extraordinary year with, I think, a sudden surge of scientific optimism, because of after barely 12 months of the pandemic we are seeing the vaccine going into the arms of the elderly and the vulnerable." 
 
"Together we can use scientific advances to protect our entire planet -- our biosphere -- against a challenge far worse, far more destructive even than the coronavirus," he said. 
 
"And by the promethean power of our invention, we can begin to defend the Earth against the disaster of global warming." 
 
"At the same time, we can create thousands of jobs, millions of jobs as we collectively recover from the pandemic," he added. 
 
Earlier this month, Johnson announced that Britain will be committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68 percent by the end of the decade compared to 1990 levels. 
 
The target is supported by the Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, which will create and support up to 250,000 British jobs by 2030 and make significant strides in cutting emissions across energy, transport and buildings, according to a statement released by Downing Street. 
 
The virtual Climate Ambition Summit, held exactly five years since the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement, aims to make new commitments to tackling climate change and delivering on the Paris Agreement ahead of the next UN Climate Conference, COP26, which will be hosted by Britain in November next year in Glasgow. 
 
The summit brought together UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and more than 70 world leaders from such countries as Britain, France, Germany, China and Canada, as well as businesses and civil society. 
 
Ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow, China will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan in southwest China, in May, 2021.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said scientific advances can be used to battle climate change, a challenge which he described as being "far worse, far more destructive than coronavirus".

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said scientific advances can be used to battle climate change, a challenge which he described as being "far worse, far more destructive than coronavirus". Johnson made the remarks while speaking at the virtual Climate Ambition Summit co-convened by the United Nations, Britain, and France, in partnership with Chile and Italy, Xinhua reported. The Prime Minister hailed a new era of "scientific optimism" as the year comes to the end. "We are coming to the end of an extraordinary year with, I think, a sudden surge of scientific optimism, because of after barely 12 months of the pandemic we are seeing the vaccine going into the arms of the elderly and the vulnerable." "Together we can use scientific advances to protect our entire planet -- our biosphere -- against a challenge far worse, far more destructive even than the coronavirus," he said. "And by the promethean power of our invention, we can begin to defend the Earth against the disaster of global warming." "At the same time, we can create thousands of jobs, millions of jobs as we collectively recover from the pandemic," he added. Earlier this month, Johnson announced that Britain will be committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 68 percent by the end of the decade compared to 1990 levels. The target is supported by the Ten Point Plan for a green industrial revolution, which will create and support up to 250,000 British jobs by 2030 and make significant strides in cutting emissions across energy, transport and buildings, according to a statement released by Downing Street. The virtual Climate Ambition Summit, held exactly five years since the adoption of the landmark Paris Agreement, aims to make new commitments to tackling climate change and delivering on the Paris Agreement ahead of the next UN Climate Conference, COP26, which will be hosted by Britain in November next year in Glasgow. The summit brought together UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and more than 70 world leaders from such countries as Britain, France, Germany, China and Canada, as well as businesses and civil society. Ahead of the COP26 in Glasgow, China will host the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan in southwest China, in May, 2021.

UK PM urges using scientific advances to battle climate change

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen layer has delivered some heartening news for those who feared Brexit trade deal talks between EU and UK were failing. She said that both sides had asked their negotiators to continue and see whether deal could be struck 'even at this late stage'.

UK and EU had set today's deadline for a deal.

"Despite the fact the deadlines have been missed over and over, we both think that it is responsible at this point in time, to go the extra mile. We have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue this task and to see whether an agreement can be reached even at this late stage," said Ursula von der Leyen

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We had a useful call with <a href="https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BorisJohnson</a> this morning. 
 
We agreed that talks will continue.<a href="https://t.co/rZpN4PmS1i">https://t.co/rZpN4PmS1i</a>
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) <a href="https://twitter.com/vonderleyen/status/1338087730690060288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2020</a></blockquote>
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European Union and UK have been locked in frantic rounds of discussions in the past week. Britain is set leave the economic bloc at the end of this month and there is no trade deal between the two sides.

Both sides differ on the issues of competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-bank-of-england-talks-of-disruption-in-financial-services-in-new-year-349028">Brexit: Bank of England talks of 'disruption' in financial services in new year</a>

It was apparent that all was not well as UK PM Boris Johnson said on Friday that there was a "strong possibility" that EU and Britain would not be able to strike a trade deal. However, he had said that he would explore all options in order to seal a deal.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/royal-navy-to-help-uk-in-case-of-no-deal-brexit-349216">Royal Navy to help UK in case of no-deal Brexit</a>

On Thursday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen had tweeted that positions of EU and UK "remain far apart"

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen layer has delivered some heartening news for those who feared Brexit trade deal talks between EU and UK were failing.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen layer has delivered some heartening news for those who feared Brexit trade deal talks between EU and UK were failing. She said that both sides had asked their negotiators to continue and see whether deal could be struck 'even at this late stage'. UK and EU had set today's deadline for a deal. "Despite the fact the deadlines have been missed over and over, we both think that it is responsible at this point in time, to go the extra mile. We have accordingly mandated our negotiators to continue this task and to see whether an agreement can be reached even at this late stage," said Ursula von der Leyen We had a useful call with @BorisJohnson this morning. We agreed that talks will continue.https://t.co/rZpN4PmS1i — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) December 13, 2020 × European Union and UK have been locked in frantic rounds of discussions in the past week. Britain is set leave the economic bloc at the end of this month and there is no trade deal between the two sides. Both sides differ on the issues of competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play. Also Read | Brexit: Bank of England talks of 'disruption' in financial services in new year It was apparent that all was not well as UK PM Boris Johnson said on Friday that there was a "strong possibility" that EU and Britain would not be able to strike a trade deal. However, he had said that he would explore all options in order to seal a deal. Also Read | Royal Navy to help UK in case of no-deal Brexit On Thursday, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen had tweeted that positions of EU and UK "remain far apart"

Brexit deal talks to continue, says EU chief on day of the deadline

The UK Supreme Court on Friday allowed a 14 billion pound ($18.5 billion) class action to proceed against Mastercard for allegedly overcharging more than 46 million people in Britain over a 15-year period in a landmark judgment.

The complex case, brought after Mastercard lost an appeal against a 2007 European Commission ruling that its fees were anti-competitive, could entitle adults in Britain to 300 pounds each if it is successful.

The court dismissed a Mastercard appeal, setting the scene for Britain’s first mass consumer claim brought under a new legal regime and establishing a standard for a string of other, stalled class actions.

“Mastercard has been ... imposing excessive card transaction charges over a prolonged period in a way it must have known would impose an invisible tax on UK consumers,” said Walter Merricks, a lawyer who is leading the action.

Mastercard said the claim was driven by “hit and hope” U.S. lawyers.

The case will now be sent back to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), nominated in 2015 to oversees Britain’s fledgling, U.S.-style “opt-out” collective class actions for breaches of UK or European Union competition law.

The CAT will reconsider granting the necessary collective proceedings order (CPO) for the case to proceed to trial, having refused to certify the case in 2017 because of its complexity. A hearing is expected next year.

Mastercard said it would ask the CAT to avert a serious risk of the new collective action regime going down the wrong path with a “fundamentally flawed” case.

The case centres on so-called interchange fees which credit and debit card companies say they levy on merchants’ banks to cover the costs of card services, security and innovation.

Merricks, who is being advised by law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart &amp; Sullivan, alleges these fees were excessive between 1992 and 2008, that they had to be paid by businesses that accepted Mastercard payments from British consumers and were passed on through increased shop prices.

Under the opt-out regime, UK-based members of a defined group are automatically bound into legal action unless they opt out.

Critics say such regimes encourage claims without merit. Others argue they can offer an effective route to compensation for those whose claims are individually too small to warrant the legal costs of taking on large companies alone - and that grouping such claims together helps attract necessary funding.

One such litigation funder, Therium, said it now expected to increase its investment allocation to competition class actions.

Anthony Maton, the global vice-chair of law firm Hausfeld, which is advising on other class actions, said: “This is a revolution in English law.

The UK Supreme Court on Friday allowed a 14 billion pound ($18.5 billion) class action to proceed against Mastercard for allegedly overcharging more than 46 million people in Britain over a 15-year period in a landmark judgment.

The UK Supreme Court on Friday allowed a 14 billion pound ($18.5 billion) class action to proceed against Mastercard for allegedly overcharging more than 46 million people in Britain over a 15-year period in a landmark judgment. The complex case, brought after Mastercard lost an appeal against a 2007 European Commission ruling that its fees were anti-competitive, could entitle adults in Britain to 300 pounds each if it is successful. The court dismissed a Mastercard appeal, setting the scene for Britain’s first mass consumer claim brought under a new legal regime and establishing a standard for a string of other, stalled class actions. “Mastercard has been ... imposing excessive card transaction charges over a prolonged period in a way it must have known would impose an invisible tax on UK consumers,” said Walter Merricks, a lawyer who is leading the action. Mastercard said the claim was driven by “hit and hope” U.S. lawyers. The case will now be sent back to the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), nominated in 2015 to oversees Britain’s fledgling, U.S.-style “opt-out” collective class actions for breaches of UK or European Union competition law. The CAT will reconsider granting the necessary collective proceedings order (CPO) for the case to proceed to trial, having refused to certify the case in 2017 because of its complexity. A hearing is expected next year. Mastercard said it would ask the CAT to avert a serious risk of the new collective action regime going down the wrong path with a “fundamentally flawed” case. The case centres on so-called interchange fees which credit and debit card companies say they levy on merchants’ banks to cover the costs of card services, security and innovation. Merricks, who is being advised by law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, alleges these fees were excessive between 1992 and 2008, that they had to be paid by businesses that accepted Mastercard payments from British consumers and were passed on through increased shop prices. Under the opt-out regime, UK-based members of a defined group are automatically bound into legal action unless they opt out. Critics say such regimes encourage claims without merit. Others argue they can offer an effective route to compensation for those whose claims are individually too small to warrant the legal costs of taking on large companies alone - and that grouping such claims together helps attract necessary funding. One such litigation funder, Therium, said it now expected to increase its investment allocation to competition class actions. Anthony Maton, the global vice-chair of law firm Hausfeld, which is advising on other class actions, said: “This is a revolution in English law.

UK Supreme Court enables $18.5 billion class action against Mastercard

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India was not just on-track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but it will also exceed them beyond expectation. He was speaking at the Climate Ambition Summit hosted by the United Nations and UK. The Summit marked fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement.

"We have reduced our emission intensity by 21 per cent over 2005 levels. Our solar capacity has grown from 2.63GW in 2014 to 36 GW in 2020. Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. It will reach 175GW before 2022. "

He added that India had an even more ambitious target now: 450GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, and the country has also succeeded in expanding its forest cover and safeguarding its biodiversity.

PM Modi said that as the world was setting its sight to achieve higher targets, it must not lose sight of the past.

"Also review our achievements against targets already set, only then can our voices be credible for future generations. India is not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but to exceed them beyond expectations", said Modi.

PM Modi added that in 2047, India will celebrate 100 years as a modern independent nation.

"To all fellow residents of this planet, I make a solemn pledge today that Centennial India will not only meet its own targets but also exceed your expectations," said Modi.

Citing India`s contribution on a global level to fight climate change, Modi said on the world stage, India has pioneered two major initiatives -- the international solar alliance and coalition for disaster resilience infrastructure.

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties at 21st Conference of Parties in Paris, on December 12, 2015, and was enforced on November 4, 2016.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India was not just on-track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but it will also exceed them beyond expectation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India was not just on-track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but it will also exceed them beyond expectation. He was speaking at the Climate Ambition Summit hosted by the United Nations and UK. The Summit marked fifth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement. "We have reduced our emission intensity by 21 per cent over 2005 levels. Our solar capacity has grown from 2.63GW in 2014 to 36 GW in 2020. Our renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. It will reach 175GW before 2022. " He added that India had an even more ambitious target now: 450GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, and the country has also succeeded in expanding its forest cover and safeguarding its biodiversity. PM Modi said that as the world was setting its sight to achieve higher targets, it must not lose sight of the past. "Also review our achievements against targets already set, only then can our voices be credible for future generations. India is not only on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets, but to exceed them beyond expectations", said Modi. PM Modi added that in 2047, India will celebrate 100 years as a modern independent nation. "To all fellow residents of this planet, I make a solemn pledge today that Centennial India will not only meet its own targets but also exceed your expectations," said Modi. Citing India`s contribution on a global level to fight climate change, Modi said on the world stage, India has pioneered two major initiatives -- the international solar alliance and coalition for disaster resilience infrastructure. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties at 21st Conference of Parties in Paris, on December 12, 2015, and was enforced on November 4, 2016.

India will easily meet Paris Agreement targets and exceed them: PM Modi

Four Royal Navy patrol ships will be ready from January 1 to help Britain protect its fishing waters in case of a no-deal Brexit.

This option is being considered as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was likely to complete its EU exit in three weeks without a trade deal.

According to Reuters, this preparation includes a standby package of 14,000 personnel to ensure that we are ready to support other government departments and authorities over the winter period, including with the EU transition, COVID-19 and potential severe weather events.

The Ministry of Defence "has conducted extensive planning and preparation to ensure that defence is ready for a range of scenarios at the end of the transition period," a spokesman said.

The 80-metre-long vessels will have the power to stop, check and impound all European Union fishing boats operating within Britain's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which can extend 200 miles (320 km) from shore.

Britain quit the European Union in January but remains an informal member until December 31 -- the end of a transition period during which it has remained in the EU single market and customs union.

There are concerns about possible skirmishes between British and foreign fishing if no trade deal is reached, with existing transitional rules that give EU boats access to British waters set to expire at the end of the year.

The Guardian newspaper reported earlier that two vessels will be deployed at sea with two on standby in case EU fishing boats enter the EEZ.

Four Royal Navy patrol ships will be ready from January 1 to help Britain protect its fishing waters in case of a no-deal Brexit. This option is being considered as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was likely to complete its EU exit in three weeks without a trade deal.

Four Royal Navy patrol ships will be ready from January 1 to help Britain protect its fishing waters in case of a no-deal Brexit. This option is being considered as Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK was likely to complete its EU exit in three weeks without a trade deal. According to Reuters, this preparation includes a standby package of 14,000 personnel to ensure that we are ready to support other government departments and authorities over the winter period, including with the EU transition, COVID-19 and potential severe weather events. The Ministry of Defence "has conducted extensive planning and preparation to ensure that defence is ready for a range of scenarios at the end of the transition period," a spokesman said. The 80-metre-long vessels will have the power to stop, check and impound all European Union fishing boats operating within Britain's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which can extend 200 miles (320 km) from shore. Britain quit the European Union in January but remains an informal member until December 31 -- the end of a transition period during which it has remained in the EU single market and customs union. There are concerns about possible skirmishes between British and foreign fishing if no trade deal is reached, with existing transitional rules that give EU boats access to British waters set to expire at the end of the year. The Guardian newspaper reported earlier that two vessels will be deployed at sea with two on standby in case EU fishing boats enter the EEZ.

Royal Navy to help UK in case of no-deal Brexit

UK on Saturday said it was concerned as Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was charged under national security law and produced in court on Saturday. Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kong's best-selling Apple Daily, is a high-profile pro-democracy figure who criticises Beijing.

"The UK remains deeply concerned about the Hong Kong authorities' focus on pursuing legal cases against pro-democracy figures like Jimmy Lai," a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters.

"We have raised this case with the authorities and will continue to lobby them at senior levels to end their targeting of pro-democracy voices."

Jimmy Lai faces charges of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".&nbsp;

Lai has held UK citizenship since before Britain handed Hong Kong back to Chinese rule in 1997. However, Britain's foreign ministry has said it cannot offer him consular assistance as China does not recognise dual nationality.

Offences under the new law carry a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hong-kong-media-mogul-jimmy-lai-produced-in-court-on-national-security-charge-349307">Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai produced in court on national security charge</a>

China's clampdown on Hong Kong has dramatically accelerated since it imposed the security law in June, with opposition politicians disqualified from the legislature and dozens of activists charged or investigated.

Some pro-democracy figures have fled abroad. One, Nathan Law, on Wednesday held his first meeting with a UK minister after relocating to Britain in July.

(With AFP inputs)

UK on Saturday said it was concerned as Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was charged under national security law and produced in court on Saturday. Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kong's best-selling Apple Daily, is a high-profile pro-democracy figure who criticises Beijing.

UK on Saturday said it was concerned as Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai was charged under national security law and produced in court on Saturday. Jimmy Lai, owner of Hong Kong's best-selling Apple Daily, is a high-profile pro-democracy figure who criticises Beijing. "The UK remains deeply concerned about the Hong Kong authorities' focus on pursuing legal cases against pro-democracy figures like Jimmy Lai," a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters. "We have raised this case with the authorities and will continue to lobby them at senior levels to end their targeting of pro-democracy voices." Jimmy Lai faces charges of "collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security". Lai has held UK citizenship since before Britain handed Hong Kong back to Chinese rule in 1997. However, Britain's foreign ministry has said it cannot offer him consular assistance as China does not recognise dual nationality. Offences under the new law carry a maximum sentence of life in prison. Also Read | Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai produced in court on national security charge China's clampdown on Hong Kong has dramatically accelerated since it imposed the security law in June, with opposition politicians disqualified from the legislature and dozens of activists charged or investigated. Some pro-democracy figures have fled abroad. One, Nathan Law, on Wednesday held his first meeting with a UK minister after relocating to Britain in July. (With AFP inputs)

Deeply concerned, says UK after Hong Kong media tycoon produced in court

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday (December 10) there was "a strong possibility" Britain and the EU would fail to safeguard free trade past the end of the year, a prospect that has weighed on the pound as markets see increasing risk of economic rupture.

UK PM Johnson says no deal Brexit now strong possibility

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that there was "a strong possibility" that Britain and European Union (EU) would not be able to strike a trade deal before Britain leaves the bloc at the end of this year. However, he has vowed to do whatever he can to avoid such an eventuality. The trade deal talks between EU and Britain are stuck on issues such as competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play

Failure to reach a consensus on the issues before Britain's exit may lead to legal and trade complications in the future.

Both sides have set a deadline of Sunday (December 13).

After a meeting with his senior ministers, Johnson said the treaty on the table did not work for Britain.

"We need to be very, very clear there's now a strong possibility, strong possibility that we will have a solution that's much more like an Australian relationship with the EU, than a Canadian relationship with the EU," Johnson said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-deal-eu-britain-to-take-decision-by-weekend-says-ursula-von-der-leyen-348693">Brexit deal: EU-Britain to take decision by weekend, says Ursula von der Leyen</a>

Australia does not have comprehensive trade deal with EU. Although Australia's trade with EU is just fraction of that of Britain, Johnson apparently is drawing simile to suggest that a deal was not necessary.

Under such a scenario, Britain would see trade barriers imposed with the EU, its main economic partner, in just three weeks.

Sterling dropped against the U.S. dollar to $1.3262 on the remarks, down from around $1.33. It was last almost 0.9 percent lower on the day at $1.3274.

Johnson spoke as the 27 national EU leaders met in Brussels and the bloc's chief executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said bridging the persistent differences in UK trade talks was "difficult".

(With Reuters inputs)

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that there was "a strong possibility" that Britain and European Union (EU) would not be able to strike a trade deal before Britain leaves the bloc at the end of this year.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that there was "a strong possibility" that Britain and European Union (EU) would not be able to strike a trade deal before Britain leaves the bloc at the end of this year. However, he has vowed to do whatever he can to avoid such an eventuality. The trade deal talks between EU and Britain are stuck on issues such as competition rules, fishing rights and economic fair play Failure to reach a consensus on the issues before Britain's exit may lead to legal and trade complications in the future. Both sides have set a deadline of Sunday (December 13). After a meeting with his senior ministers, Johnson said the treaty on the table did not work for Britain. "We need to be very, very clear there's now a strong possibility, strong possibility that we will have a solution that's much more like an Australian relationship with the EU, than a Canadian relationship with the EU," Johnson said. Also Read | Brexit deal: EU-Britain to take decision by weekend, says Ursula von der Leyen Australia does not have comprehensive trade deal with EU. Although Australia's trade with EU is just fraction of that of Britain, Johnson apparently is drawing simile to suggest that a deal was not necessary. Under such a scenario, Britain would see trade barriers imposed with the EU, its main economic partner, in just three weeks. Sterling dropped against the U.S. dollar to $1.3262 on the remarks, down from around $1.33. It was last almost 0.9 percent lower on the day at $1.3274. Johnson spoke as the 27 national EU leaders met in Brussels and the bloc's chief executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, said bridging the persistent differences in UK trade talks was "difficult". (With Reuters inputs)

Strong possibility of no-deal Brexit: UK PM Boris Johnson

UK PM Boris Johnson doesn't comment on farmers' protest in India. Watch this video to know more

UK PM Boris Johnson doesn't comment on farmers' protest in India

Britain's medicine regulator said anyone with a history of anaphylaxis to a medicine or food should not get the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, giving fuller guidance on an earlier allergy warning about the shot.

UK issues anaphylaxis warning on Pfizer vaccine after adverse reactions

Nine out of 10 people in dozens of poor nations could miss out on getting vaccinated against COVID-19 next year because rich countries have hoarded far more doses than they need, campaigners said on Wednesday.

Poor countries seen missing out as rich nations hoard COVID-19 vaccines

The United Kingdom has made its stance clear on the ongoing farmers protests in India, saying it's the&nbsp;Indian government's matter.

In response to a WION question,&nbsp;spokesperson of UK's&nbsp;Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“The police handling of protests are a matter for the Government of India.”

Earlier in the day, the matter was raised in the British Parliament. In response to a question raised by&nbsp;Labour Party MP&nbsp;Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, British Prime minister Boris Johnson didn't give any direct&nbsp;response.

Boris said, "Of course, Mr Speaker, and our views as the honourable gentleman knows well of course we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan but these are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I know that he appreciates that point".

Last week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his concern on the farmers protests in India leading to a sharp reaction from India. The Ministry of External Affairs called the comments "unwarranted", and summoned the Canadian envoy to India Nadir Patel, handing over a strong demarche.

The United Kingdom has made its stance clear on the ongoing farmers protests in India, saying it's the Indian government's matter. In response to a WION question, spokesperson of UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said, “The police handling of protests are a matter for the Government of India.

The United Kingdom has made its stance clear on the ongoing farmers protests in India, saying it's the Indian government's matter. In response to a WION question, spokesperson of UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said, “The police handling of protests are a matter for the Government of India.” Earlier in the day, the matter was raised in the British Parliament. In response to a question raised by Labour Party MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, British Prime minister Boris Johnson didn't give any direct response. Boris said, "Of course, Mr Speaker, and our views as the honourable gentleman knows well of course we have serious concerns about what is happening between India and Pakistan but these are pre-eminently matters for those two governments to settle and I know that he appreciates that point". Last week Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his concern on the farmers protests in India leading to a sharp reaction from India. The Ministry of External Affairs called the comments "unwarranted", and summoned the Canadian envoy to India Nadir Patel, handing over a strong demarche.

It is a government of India matter: UK on farmer protest

The pair will hold talks over dinner, after negotiations between officials ended in deadlock.

UK PM Boris Johnson to meet Ursula von der Leyen for trade deal talks

UK is planning to a 'mix & match' trial of Oxford & Pfizer vaccines. The pilot trial has been scheduled for January 2021.

UK to begin trial to 'mix & match' COVID-19 vaccines from Jan 2021

90-year-old Margaret Keenan, became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shot outside of a trial as Britain began vaccinating its population.

90-year-old UK woman, first in the world to get Pfizer vaccine shot

Conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 has been floating around since the pandemic began. As UK became the first country to start mass vaccination drive, anti-vax protesters also marched through the streets of London.

Protest against vaccine as UK begins mass vaccination

Britain becomes the first Western country in the world to start mass vaccination programme against the COVID-19. UK is rolling out the vaccine manufactured by US pharma Pfizer & its German partner BioNTech.

UK becomes the first Western country to begin mass vaccination against COVID-19

Britain’s National Health Service began delivering shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Tuesday, opening a public health campaign with little precedent in modern medicine and making Britons the first people in the world to receive an authorized, fully tested vaccine.

Here’s a guide to some of the basics.

Should I be concerned about the safety of the vaccine in Britain?

Britain’s drug regulator is seen as a bellwether agency, and its decisions often have influence abroad. In the case of the Pfizer vaccine, the agency has said that it did not cut any corners and undertook the same laborious process of vetting the quality, efficacy and manufacturing protocols of the vaccine — except faster than usual.

Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said last week that the British had not reviewed the vaccine “as carefully” as the United States was. But he walked back those comments the next day, saying: “I have a great deal of confidence in what the U.K. does, both scientifically and from a regulator standpoint.”

Who in Britain will get the vaccine first?

Doctors and nurses, certain people older than 80 and nursing home workers.

Some doctors and nurses have received invitations in recent days to sign up for appointments, with the first shots intended for those at the highest risk of severe illness. The government has indicated that people older than 80 who already have visits with doctors scheduled for this week, or who are being discharged from certain hospitals, will also be among the first to receive shots.

Nursing home residents, who had been designated the top priority by a government advisory body, will be vaccinated in the coming weeks once health officials start distributing doses beyond hospitals.

They said they were not able to do so right away because of the ultracold storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine must be transported at South Pole-like temperatures, although Pfizer has said that it can be stored for five days in a normal refrigerator before being used.

How will the vaccine cards work?

British health officials released images Monday of a small, wallet-size vaccination card. It will hold a record of the date of someone’s first and second dose of the vaccine, which are supposed to be roughly a month apart.

While the images raised fears of a government-mandated vaccine passport program, with the cards functioning as proof of vaccination and a key to traveling and going to events, health officials have indicated that the card will not function that way.

They have compared it to cards already in use by the country’s National Health Service for other two-dose vaccinations and said it would be useful but not necessary for people to bring it to their second vaccination appointment. The card does not even have space for a vaccinated person’s name, making it impossible to use as proof of someone’s vaccination.

When can I return to normal life after being vaccinated?

Life will return to normal only when society as a whole gains enough protection against the coronavirus. Once countries authorize a vaccine, they’ll only be able to vaccinate a few percent of their citizens at most in the first couple months. The unvaccinated majority will still remain vulnerable to getting infected.

A growing number of coronavirus vaccines are showing robust protection against becoming sick. But it’s also possible for people to spread the virus without even knowing they’re infected because they experience only mild symptoms or none at all. Scientists don’t yet know if the vaccines also block the transmission of the coronavirus.

So for the time being, even vaccinated people will need to wear masks, avoid indoor crowds and so on.

Once enough people get vaccinated, it will become very difficult for the coronavirus to find vulnerable people to infect. Depending on how quickly we as a society achieve that goal, life might start approaching something like normal by the fall 2021.

If I’ve been vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask?

Yes, but not forever. The two vaccines that will potentially get authorized this month clearly protect people from getting sick with COVID-19. But the clinical trials that delivered these results were not designed to determine whether vaccinated people could still spread the coronavirus without developing symptoms. That remains a possibility. We know that people who are naturally infected by the coronavirus can spread it while they’re not experiencing any cough or other symptoms.

Researchers will be intensely studying this question as the vaccines roll out. In the meantime, even vaccinated people will need to think of themselves as possible spreaders.

Will it hurt? What are the side effects?

The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine is delivered as a shot in the arm, like other typical vaccines. The injection won’t be any different from ones you’ve gotten before. Tens of thousands of people have already received the vaccines, and none of them have reported any serious side effects. But some of them have felt short-lived discomfort, including aches and flu-like symptoms that last less than a day. It’s possible that people may need to plan to take a day off work or school after the second shot.

While these experiences aren’t pleasant, they are a good sign: They are the result of your own immune system encountering the vaccine and mounting a potent response that will provide long-lasting immunity.

Does the vaccine affect fertility?

There’s no evidence that it does, and there’s good reason to think that it does not.

Some claims have been floating around the web that coronavirus vaccines can harm a woman’s fertility. Their supposed evidence rests on the fact that most coronavirus vaccines work by creating antibodies that attack the virus’ “spike” protein, and this protein has a minor resemblance to a protein crucial for the formation of the placenta.

But that does not mean that the antibodies generated by coronavirus vaccines would attack a pregnant woman’s placenta. The region of the placental protein that’s similar to the spike is just too short to give the antibodies a grip.

What’s more, the pandemic has brought a lot of evidence against the idea that the vaccine could threaten the placenta. When people get COVID-19, they fight off the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, by generating their own supply of spike antibodies. In recent months, researchers have carried out a number of studies on pregnant women to see if COVID-19 leads to miscarriages.

“And the consistent message is no, SARS-CoV-2 does not seem to induce miscarriage,” said Dr. Emily Miller, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. “If the placenta isn’t knocked out by antibodies generated from overt infection with SARS-COV-2, it is highly unlikely that it would get knocked out after vaccination.”

Britain’s National Health Service began delivering shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Tuesday, opening a public health campaign with little precedent in modern medicine and making Britons the first people in the world to receive an authorized, fully tested vaccine.

Britain’s National Health Service began delivering shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine Tuesday, opening a public health campaign with little precedent in modern medicine and making Britons the first people in the world to receive an authorized, fully tested vaccine. Here’s a guide to some of the basics. Should I be concerned about the safety of the vaccine in Britain? Britain’s drug regulator is seen as a bellwether agency, and its decisions often have influence abroad. In the case of the Pfizer vaccine, the agency has said that it did not cut any corners and undertook the same laborious process of vetting the quality, efficacy and manufacturing protocols of the vaccine — except faster than usual. Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the top U.S. infectious disease expert, said last week that the British had not reviewed the vaccine “as carefully” as the United States was. But he walked back those comments the next day, saying: “I have a great deal of confidence in what the U.K. does, both scientifically and from a regulator standpoint.” Who in Britain will get the vaccine first? Doctors and nurses, certain people older than 80 and nursing home workers. Some doctors and nurses have received invitations in recent days to sign up for appointments, with the first shots intended for those at the highest risk of severe illness. The government has indicated that people older than 80 who already have visits with doctors scheduled for this week, or who are being discharged from certain hospitals, will also be among the first to receive shots. Nursing home residents, who had been designated the top priority by a government advisory body, will be vaccinated in the coming weeks once health officials start distributing doses beyond hospitals. They said they were not able to do so right away because of the ultracold storage requirements of the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine must be transported at South Pole-like temperatures, although Pfizer has said that it can be stored for five days in a normal refrigerator before being used. How will the vaccine cards work? British health officials released images Monday of a small, wallet-size vaccination card. It will hold a record of the date of someone’s first and second dose of the vaccine, which are supposed to be roughly a month apart. While the images raised fears of a government-mandated vaccine passport program, with the cards functioning as proof of vaccination and a key to traveling and going to events, health officials have indicated that the card will not function that way. They have compared it to cards already in use by the country’s National Health Service for other two-dose vaccinations and said it would be useful but not necessary for people to bring it to their second vaccination appointment. The card does not even have space for a vaccinated person’s name, making it impossible to use as proof of someone’s vaccination. When can I return to normal life after being vaccinated? Life will return to normal only when society as a whole gains enough protection against the coronavirus. Once countries authorize a vaccine, they’ll only be able to vaccinate a few percent of their citizens at most in the first couple months. The unvaccinated majority will still remain vulnerable to getting infected. A growing number of coronavirus vaccines are showing robust protection against becoming sick. But it’s also possible for people to spread the virus without even knowing they’re infected because they experience only mild symptoms or none at all. Scientists don’t yet know if the vaccines also block the transmission of the coronavirus. So for the time being, even vaccinated people will need to wear masks, avoid indoor crowds and so on. Once enough people get vaccinated, it will become very difficult for the coronavirus to find vulnerable people to infect. Depending on how quickly we as a society achieve that goal, life might start approaching something like normal by the fall 2021. If I’ve been vaccinated, do I still need to wear a mask? Yes, but not forever. The two vaccines that will potentially get authorized this month clearly protect people from getting sick with COVID-19. But the clinical trials that delivered these results were not designed to determine whether vaccinated people could still spread the coronavirus without developing symptoms. That remains a possibility. We know that people who are naturally infected by the coronavirus can spread it while they’re not experiencing any cough or other symptoms. Researchers will be intensely studying this question as the vaccines roll out. In the meantime, even vaccinated people will need to think of themselves as possible spreaders. Will it hurt? What are the side effects? The Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine is delivered as a shot in the arm, like other typical vaccines. The injection won’t be any different from ones you’ve gotten before. Tens of thousands of people have already received the vaccines, and none of them have reported any serious side effects. But some of them have felt short-lived discomfort, including aches and flu-like symptoms that last less than a day. It’s possible that people may need to plan to take a day off work or school after the second shot. While these experiences aren’t pleasant, they are a good sign: They are the result of your own immune system encountering the vaccine and mounting a potent response that will provide long-lasting immunity. Does the vaccine affect fertility? There’s no evidence that it does, and there’s good reason to think that it does not. Some claims have been floating around the web that coronavirus vaccines can harm a woman’s fertility. Their supposed evidence rests on the fact that most coronavirus vaccines work by creating antibodies that attack the virus’ “spike” protein, and this protein has a minor resemblance to a protein crucial for the formation of the placenta. But that does not mean that the antibodies generated by coronavirus vaccines would attack a pregnant woman’s placenta. The region of the placental protein that’s similar to the spike is just too short to give the antibodies a grip. What’s more, the pandemic has brought a lot of evidence against the idea that the vaccine could threaten the placenta. When people get COVID-19, they fight off the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2, by generating their own supply of spike antibodies. In recent months, researchers have carried out a number of studies on pregnant women to see if COVID-19 leads to miscarriages. “And the consistent message is no, SARS-CoV-2 does not seem to induce miscarriage,” said Dr. Emily Miller, assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University. “If the placenta isn’t knocked out by antibodies generated from overt infection with SARS-COV-2, it is highly unlikely that it would get knocked out after vaccination.”

UK coronavirus vaccine: Side effects, safety and who gets it first

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According to reports, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine within weeks, after UK regulators granted emergency approval and the world's first rollout which begins this week.

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