Despite the strained ties between both the nations, a heroic act by a top UK diplomat is winning a lot of hearts in China.&nbsp;

Consul General Stephen Ellison jumped into a river in China's Zhongshan to save a woman who had fallen into a river coursing and was drowning.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/taiwan-diplomat-hospitalised-after-scuffle-with-chinese-diplomats-in-fiji-336351">Taiwan diplomat hospitalised after scuffle with Chinese diplomats in Fiji</a>&nbsp;

"Due to the timely rescue, the woman quickly recovered her breathing and consciousness," Britain's mission in Chongqing wrote on its official Weibo page.

The 61-year-old diplomat was in the town on Saturday when he heard a cry from a group of people after the woman fell into the river. &nbsp;

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We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety. <a href="https://t.co/OOgXqsK5oe">pic.twitter.com/OOgXqsK5oe</a>
— UK in China 🇬🇧 (@ukinchina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ukinchina/status/1328309479595798530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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He then gave a lifebuoy to the woman that was thrown from the riverbank before the duo reached the shore.&nbsp;

Video footage shared by the consulate and various Chinese media organisations shows the diplomat jump immediately fully-clothed after seeing the woman struggling to stay afloat.&nbsp;

"We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety," said UK embassy in China on Twitter.&nbsp;

The hashtag "British Consul-General in Chongqing saves female student who fell in the water" had attracted about 40 million acknowledgements on Weibo by Monday evening&nbsp;

"For a man of such advanced age to save another person from the water in such cold weather, regardless of his own safety, he is a hero and gentleman!" read one comment, as quoted by news agency AFP.&nbsp;

"Regardless of our differences... to act heroically is a virtue and should be praised," said another user.&nbsp;

Despite the strained ties between both the nations, a heroic act by a top UK diplomat is winning a lot of hearts in China. Consul General Stephen Ellison jumped into a river in China's Zhongshan to save a woman who had fallen into a river coursing and was drowning.

Despite the strained ties between both the nations, a heroic act by a top UK diplomat is winning a lot of hearts in China. Consul General Stephen Ellison jumped into a river in China's Zhongshan to save a woman who had fallen into a river coursing and was drowning. Also read | Taiwan diplomat hospitalised after scuffle with Chinese diplomats in Fiji "Due to the timely rescue, the woman quickly recovered her breathing and consciousness," Britain's mission in Chongqing wrote on its official Weibo page. The 61-year-old diplomat was in the town on Saturday when he heard a cry from a group of people after the woman fell into the river. We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety. pic.twitter.com/OOgXqsK5oe — UK in China 🇬🇧 (@ukinchina) November 16, 2020 × He then gave a lifebuoy to the woman that was thrown from the riverbank before the duo reached the shore. Video footage shared by the consulate and various Chinese media organisations shows the diplomat jump immediately fully-clothed after seeing the woman struggling to stay afloat. "We are all immensely proud of our Chongqing Consul General, Stephen Ellison, who dived into a river on Saturday to rescue a drowning student and swim her to safety," said UK embassy in China on Twitter. The hashtag "British Consul-General in Chongqing saves female student who fell in the water" had attracted about 40 million acknowledgements on Weibo by Monday evening "For a man of such advanced age to save another person from the water in such cold weather, regardless of his own safety, he is a hero and gentleman!" read one comment, as quoted by news agency AFP. "Regardless of our differences... to act heroically is a virtue and should be praised," said another user.

Top diplomat's heroic act to rescue drowning woman wins heart in China

More than 62,000 people have signed an online petition against the deportation of an elderly Sikh woman to India who has been living in the United Kingdom for 10 years.&nbsp;

Gurmit Kaur Sahota, 75, in 2009 arrived in Smethwick in the West Midlands as an undocumented migrant and has been living there since then.

According to the UK Visas and Immigration rules, Sahota has to return back to India even though she did not have a family there.&nbsp;

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A local Sikh community in Smethwick has adopted the septuagenarian.

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"Gurmit applied to stay but has been refused even though she has no family to return to in Punjab, India," said the online petition on Change.Org to the UK Home Office and UK Parliament.

"Gurmit is a very kind woman, even though she has nothing she is still generous and will always give what she can, when she can. Most of her days are spent volunteering at the local gurdwara."

Calling her an "asset", the petition also said that the elderly woman also distributed fruits to Black Lives Matter protesters to support their cause.&nbsp;

Speaking through a translator, Sahota told Birmingham Live that if she returned back to her home country, she would have nowhere to reside as she has no family there.

"I fear the loneliness and the impact on my mental health going back there all alone. Being here in Smethwick is my true home, it's where I work to help the community, it's where I give back, it's where I know and love the people who have become my family. The people in the temple here have become my true family," Sahota said.&nbsp;

More than 62,000 people have signed an online petition against the deportation of an elderly Sikh woman to India who has been living in the United Kingdom for 10 years.

More than 62,000 people have signed an online petition against the deportation of an elderly Sikh woman to India who has been living in the United Kingdom for 10 years. Gurmit Kaur Sahota, 75, in 2009 arrived in Smethwick in the West Midlands as an undocumented migrant and has been living there since then. According to the UK Visas and Immigration rules, Sahota has to return back to India even though she did not have a family there. Also read | After United Kingdom, Sweden bans Huawei from upcoming 5G networks A local Sikh community in Smethwick has adopted the septuagenarian. Also read | United Kingdom mulling a new law to give its spies licence to kill "Gurmit applied to stay but has been refused even though she has no family to return to in Punjab, India," said the online petition on Change.Org to the UK Home Office and UK Parliament. "Gurmit is a very kind woman, even though she has nothing she is still generous and will always give what she can, when she can. Most of her days are spent volunteering at the local gurdwara." Calling her an "asset", the petition also said that the elderly woman also distributed fruits to Black Lives Matter protesters to support their cause. Speaking through a translator, Sahota told Birmingham Live that if she returned back to her home country, she would have nowhere to reside as she has no family there. "I fear the loneliness and the impact on my mental health going back there all alone. Being here in Smethwick is my true home, it's where I work to help the community, it's where I give back, it's where I know and love the people who have become my family. The people in the temple here have become my true family," Sahota said.

More than 60,000 sign petition against deportation of elderly Sikh woman

A 30-year-old UK nurse has been charged on Wednesday for murdering eight kids and attempting to kill another 10, police in Chester said.&nbsp;

Lucy Letby was arrested on Tuesday and the charges are on "a number of baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital" from June 2015 to June 2016, Chester police said in a statement, as quoted by news agency AFP.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-defeated-in-parliament-on-treaty-breaking-brexit-laws-342115">UK PM Johnson defeated in parliament on treaty-breaking Brexit laws</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

The charges are levelled following a three-year-long investigation into the deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit after there was a huge rise in the deaths of infants in the hospital.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uks-travel-ban-on-denmark-affects-premier-league-stars-and-nations-league-fixture-342107#:~:text=The%20disruption%20has%20affected%20UK,including%20eight%20Premier%20League%20stars.&amp;text=The%20United%20Kingdom%20on%20Saturday,Denmark%20due%20to%20the%20outbreak.&amp;text=Denmark%20is%20set%20to%20host,for%20the%20Nations%20League%20fixture.">UK's travel ban on Denmark affects Premier League stars and Nations League fixture</a>

"Lucy Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is facing eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder," a spokesperson of Cheshire police said, as quoted by The Sun.&nbsp;

"The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Cheshire Police to charge a healthcare professional with murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital."

An internal probe was launched when medical professionals found premature babies had died due to heart and lung failure.

Letby's friends and family during that time insisted the "awkward but kind-hearted" nurse was innocent.

She was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019 and will be produced before magistrates on Thursday in nearby Warrington.&nbsp;

A 30-year-old UK nurse has been charged on Wednesday for murdering eight kids and attempting to kill another 10, police in Chester said. Lucy Letby was arrested on Tuesday and the charges are on "a number of baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital" from June 2015 to June 2016, Chester police said in a statement, as quoted by news agency AFP.

A 30-year-old UK nurse has been charged on Wednesday for murdering eight kids and attempting to kill another 10, police in Chester said. Lucy Letby was arrested on Tuesday and the charges are on "a number of baby deaths and non-fatal collapses at the neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital" from June 2015 to June 2016, Chester police said in a statement, as quoted by news agency AFP. Also read | UK PM Johnson defeated in parliament on treaty-breaking Brexit laws The charges are levelled following a three-year-long investigation into the deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital's neonatal unit after there was a huge rise in the deaths of infants in the hospital. Also read | UK's travel ban on Denmark affects Premier League stars and Nations League fixture "Lucy Letby, of Arran Avenue, Hereford, is facing eight charges of murder and 10 charges of attempted murder," a spokesperson of Cheshire police said, as quoted by The Sun. "The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Cheshire Police to charge a healthcare professional with murder in connection with an ongoing investigation into a number of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester Hospital." An internal probe was launched when medical professionals found premature babies had died due to heart and lung failure. Letby's friends and family during that time insisted the "awkward but kind-hearted" nurse was innocent. She was previously arrested in 2018 and 2019 and will be produced before magistrates on Thursday in nearby Warrington.

British nurse charged for killing eight babies, attempting to murder 10 more

LONDON — At least he wasn’t left waiting by the phone.

British officials expressed relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was included in President-elect Joe Biden’s first round of calls with foreign leaders Tuesday, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Micheal Martin of Ireland.

Some worried that Johnson’s ideological kinship with President Donald Trump and his backing of Brexit, which Biden had opposed, would put him at the back of the queue, as President Barack Obama once warned Britain if it voted to leave the European Union.

But the inclusion of pint-size Ireland on the list was at least as telling as Britain’s, a red flag to diplomats that Brexit could still get in the way of the country’s cherished special relationship with United States.

Biden spoke to Martin right after Johnson, according to Irish officials. He delivered the same message to both men — that he “reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland,” according to a statement issued by the Biden transition office.

Downing Street made no mention of Northern Ireland in its account of the call, preferring to focus on how Johnson and Biden pledged to cooperate on “shared priorities, from tackling climate change, to promoting democracy and building back better from the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Good Friday Agreement, brokered in 1998 under President Bill Clinton, ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. It has become a potential source of conflict between Biden and Johnson because Britain’s trade negotiations with the EU could put the accord in jeopardy.

“It’s really quite pointed and deliberate that Biden raised the Good Friday Agreement with Johnson,” said Bobby McDonagh, a former Irish ambassador to Britain. “The British do not like it in general when American presidents raise Ireland with them, going back to Thatcher and Reagan.”

Biden, who speaks often of his Irish roots, warned Johnson during the campaign not to take any steps that would undermine the accord. That came after the Johnson government introduced legislation to rewrite parts of its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU that address Northern Ireland. The revisions, critics say, could lead to the resurrection of a hard border across Ireland.

Downing Street contends that the legislation, known as the Internal Market Bill, is meant to ensure that trade flows freely between Britain and Northern Ireland and is merely a safety net in case there is no trade deal. If Johnson does strike one, he could always remove the offending language.

By all accounts, Biden and Johnson did not get into the weeds in their 20-minute exchange. The two have never met, and the prime minister carries some baggage. He alienated people in Obama’s circle by once referring to “the part-Kenyan president’s ancestral dislike of the British Empire.”

This time, Johnson seemed determined to get off on the right foot. He invited Biden to attend a climate change conference in Glasgow next November and hailed Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for her “historic achievement.” And it was noteworthy that he invoked the slogan “building back better,” one used by both the Biden campaign and his government.

The Irish were evidently less nervous about a call to Martin. His office tweeted that he had a “very positive” conversation with Biden, then abruptly deleted it — he had not yet spoken to the president-elect.

For many in Britain, it was enough that Johnson remained near the top of the incoming U.S. president’s call sheet. British newspapers crowed that Biden spoke to Johnson before Merkel or Macron, though Biden officials declined to clarify the order of the calls.

Either way, it was a better showing than four years ago, when British diplomats were chagrined to learn that President-elect Donald Trump had taken calls from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt before one from Prime Minister Theresa May.

Even Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, got through, thanks to a private number for Trump that he got from golfer Greg Norman. (That turned out to be a mixed blessing: In another call a month later, the new president heatedly rejected an Obama-era deal to take refugees from Australia, and eventually hung up on the prime minister.)

Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to the United States, finally connected his boss to Trump by tracking down the president-elect through his secretary at Trump Tower. It was an off-the-wall experience that has little in common with Biden’s meticulously choreographed outreach to foreign leaders.

“It was a helpful signal for the British that Johnson was in the batch of the first four Europeans, and, I assume, quite a big relief for Downing Street,” Darroch said. “As expected, the Biden team are a whole lot more organized about this than Trump. You didn’t find Erdogan and Sissi getting the first two calls.”

LONDON — At least he wasn’t left waiting by the phone. British officials expressed relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was included in President-elect Joe Biden’s first round of calls with foreign leaders Tuesday, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Micheal Martin of Ireland.

LONDON — At least he wasn’t left waiting by the phone. British officials expressed relief that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was included in President-elect Joe Biden’s first round of calls with foreign leaders Tuesday, along with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Micheal Martin of Ireland. Some worried that Johnson’s ideological kinship with President Donald Trump and his backing of Brexit, which Biden had opposed, would put him at the back of the queue, as President Barack Obama once warned Britain if it voted to leave the European Union. But the inclusion of pint-size Ireland on the list was at least as telling as Britain’s, a red flag to diplomats that Brexit could still get in the way of the country’s cherished special relationship with United States. Biden spoke to Martin right after Johnson, according to Irish officials. He delivered the same message to both men — that he “reaffirmed his support for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland,” according to a statement issued by the Biden transition office. Downing Street made no mention of Northern Ireland in its account of the call, preferring to focus on how Johnson and Biden pledged to cooperate on “shared priorities, from tackling climate change, to promoting democracy and building back better from the coronavirus pandemic.” The Good Friday Agreement, brokered in 1998 under President Bill Clinton, ended decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. It has become a potential source of conflict between Biden and Johnson because Britain’s trade negotiations with the EU could put the accord in jeopardy. “It’s really quite pointed and deliberate that Biden raised the Good Friday Agreement with Johnson,” said Bobby McDonagh, a former Irish ambassador to Britain. “The British do not like it in general when American presidents raise Ireland with them, going back to Thatcher and Reagan.” Biden, who speaks often of his Irish roots, warned Johnson during the campaign not to take any steps that would undermine the accord. That came after the Johnson government introduced legislation to rewrite parts of its Withdrawal Agreement with the EU that address Northern Ireland. The revisions, critics say, could lead to the resurrection of a hard border across Ireland. Downing Street contends that the legislation, known as the Internal Market Bill, is meant to ensure that trade flows freely between Britain and Northern Ireland and is merely a safety net in case there is no trade deal. If Johnson does strike one, he could always remove the offending language. By all accounts, Biden and Johnson did not get into the weeds in their 20-minute exchange. The two have never met, and the prime minister carries some baggage. He alienated people in Obama’s circle by once referring to “the part-Kenyan president’s ancestral dislike of the British Empire.” This time, Johnson seemed determined to get off on the right foot. He invited Biden to attend a climate change conference in Glasgow next November and hailed Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for her “historic achievement.” And it was noteworthy that he invoked the slogan “building back better,” one used by both the Biden campaign and his government. The Irish were evidently less nervous about a call to Martin. His office tweeted that he had a “very positive” conversation with Biden, then abruptly deleted it — he had not yet spoken to the president-elect. For many in Britain, it was enough that Johnson remained near the top of the incoming U.S. president’s call sheet. British newspapers crowed that Biden spoke to Johnson before Merkel or Macron, though Biden officials declined to clarify the order of the calls. Either way, it was a better showing than four years ago, when British diplomats were chagrined to learn that President-elect Donald Trump had taken calls from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt before one from Prime Minister Theresa May. Even Australia’s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, got through, thanks to a private number for Trump that he got from golfer Greg Norman. (That turned out to be a mixed blessing: In another call a month later, the new president heatedly rejected an Obama-era deal to take refugees from Australia, and eventually hung up on the prime minister.) Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to the United States, finally connected his boss to Trump by tracking down the president-elect through his secretary at Trump Tower. It was an off-the-wall experience that has little in common with Biden’s meticulously choreographed outreach to foreign leaders. “It was a helpful signal for the British that Johnson was in the batch of the first four Europeans, and, I assume, quite a big relief for Downing Street,” Darroch said. “As expected, the Biden team are a whole lot more organized about this than Trump. You didn’t find Erdogan and Sissi getting the first two calls.”

Would he or wouldn't he? Johnson is relieved that Biden called

While kids might not be able to meet Santa in person this year an entertainment company in London has created an app so that virtual meet-ups can take place.

New app allows kids to virtually 'meet' Santa

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ambitious mass testing program 'Operation Moonshot' has failed to detect over 50 per cent of coronavirus cases in a crucial trial in Manchester and Salford last month, a report claimed.&nbsp;

The 20-minute rapid test for which the Johnson administration has spent £323 m (USD 424 m) to ramp up the coronavirus testing has found only 46.7 per cent infections during the trial in Manchester and Salford last month, reports The Guardian.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-johnson-under-fire-as-new-lockdown-looms-for-england-340105">UK's Johnson under fire as new lockdown looms for England</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

This suggests that many Covid-19 carriers were wrongly told they have not contracted the disease, potentially allowing these people to spread the virus.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-johnson-declares-englands-second-stay-at-home-lockdown-339319">UK PM Johnson declares England's second stay-at-home lockdown</a>

Experts with Greater Manchester's mass testing expert group (MTEG) has raised serious concerns this week about the accuracy of the OptiGene Direct RT-Lamp tests and was not in favour of using the test kits widely as aimed in hospitals or care homes.&nbsp;

The findings came at a time when the tests will be widely carried out in a first in Liverpool on Friday.&nbsp;

On Monday, the British prime minister told MPs that the government was "rolling out testing of all NHS staff as fast as we possibly can" and its intension of carrying out rapid, regular testing for care homes, hospitals, schools and universities.

In a letter, MTEG wrote that the current data shows "low sensitivity (46.7%) of the Direct RT-Lamp platform," and said the technology has raised "significant concerns", adding that the data does not back the "investment in the large scale rollout of Direct RT-Lamp saliva testing in any of the proposed clinical settings considered (hospital staff, care staff, community settings) at this time." 
&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ambitious mass testing program 'Operation Moonshot' has failed to detect over 50 per cent of coronavirus cases in a crucial trial in Manchester and Salford last month, a report claimed.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's ambitious mass testing program 'Operation Moonshot' has failed to detect over 50 per cent of coronavirus cases in a crucial trial in Manchester and Salford last month, a report claimed. The 20-minute rapid test for which the Johnson administration has spent £323 m (USD 424 m) to ramp up the coronavirus testing has found only 46.7 per cent infections during the trial in Manchester and Salford last month, reports The Guardian. Also read | UK's Johnson under fire as new lockdown looms for England This suggests that many Covid-19 carriers were wrongly told they have not contracted the disease, potentially allowing these people to spread the virus. Also read | UK PM Johnson declares England's second stay-at-home lockdown Experts with Greater Manchester's mass testing expert group (MTEG) has raised serious concerns this week about the accuracy of the OptiGene Direct RT-Lamp tests and was not in favour of using the test kits widely as aimed in hospitals or care homes. The findings came at a time when the tests will be widely carried out in a first in Liverpool on Friday. On Monday, the British prime minister told MPs that the government was "rolling out testing of all NHS staff as fast as we possibly can" and its intension of carrying out rapid, regular testing for care homes, hospitals, schools and universities. In a letter, MTEG wrote that the current data shows "low sensitivity (46.7%) of the Direct RT-Lamp platform," and said the technology has raised "significant concerns", adding that the data does not back the "investment in the large scale rollout of Direct RT-Lamp saliva testing in any of the proposed clinical settings considered (hospital staff, care staff, community settings) at this time."

UK PM Boris Johnson's ambitious mass testing program fails to detect over 50% cases in crucial trial

A distinctive pink Christmas tree was unveiled at a central London retail destination on Friday (November 6) despite most shops having to close due to the government's latest coronavirus lockdown.

Pink Christmas tree unveiled in locked down London shopping area

Many restaurants in London were packed to capacity on Wednesday (November 4) evening as the minutes ticked down to the start of a lockdown that will see the closure of non-essential establishments for at least one month.

Last supper for Londoners as England heads back into lockdown

Christmas came early on London's iconic Oxford Street on Monday (November 2) as the festive lights were switched on for 2020, despite the coronavirus pandemic overshadowing the countdown to the holiday season.

London Christmas lights celebrate 2020 heroes

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children.

The government had extended its free meals scheme to children during the Easter holidays this year. After campaigning by high profile celebrities like the football player Rashford, the government extended the free meals programme.

Owing to the government's refusal to continue the programme, councils across the country are providing vouchers for meals, with hundreds of businesses offering parcels to vulnerable children.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-police-deal-with-incident-aboard-tanker-off-english-coast-337900" hreflang="en">UK police deal with incident aboard tanker off English coast</a>

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary had referred to the community-driven campaigns as "brilliant", while adding that the best way to provide help to those in need was through councils in conversation with BBC.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently under pressure to extend the programme, with the opposition also pressurising him into doing the same.

Three other constituents of the United Kingdom - Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have introduced food voucher schemes.

The government is facing increasing pressure from external factors as well. Manchester United's petition calling for the extension of meal schemes had gained traction online, with over 870,000 signatures by Monday.

Hancock told BBC that Rashford and Boris Johnson had been in touch, saying "there has been communication between the two". He also expected the matter to be followed up.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-pub-bans-rishi-sunak-for-life-after-he-voted-against-free-school-meals-337685" hreflang="en">UK pub bans Rishi Sunak for life after he voted against free school meals</a>

In conversation with the BBC, Hancock also defended the government's stance in terms of its refusal to extend help programmes. According to Hancock, the government has increased Universal Credit, and has also allocated £63m to authorities at the local level.

In mid-October, Conservative MPs voted against Labour Party's attempt to continue the free meals schemes by 322 votes to 261.

In 2019, about 1.3 million children availed free meals scheme in England - this constitutes about 15% of school students in the country.

According to the Food Foundation, 900,000 children in England have tried to avail free meals since the pandemic began.

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children.

The United Kingdom is currently in the middle of a controversy over free meals for school children in the country. Half term for school students is set to begin in England soon, and the country has refused to extend its free meals scheme for school children. The government had extended its free meals scheme to children during the Easter holidays this year. After campaigning by high profile celebrities like the football player Rashford, the government extended the free meals programme. Owing to the government's refusal to continue the programme, councils across the country are providing vouchers for meals, with hundreds of businesses offering parcels to vulnerable children. Also read: UK police deal with incident aboard tanker off English coast Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary had referred to the community-driven campaigns as "brilliant", while adding that the best way to provide help to those in need was through councils in conversation with BBC. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently under pressure to extend the programme, with the opposition also pressurising him into doing the same. Three other constituents of the United Kingdom - Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland have introduced food voucher schemes. The government is facing increasing pressure from external factors as well. Manchester United's petition calling for the extension of meal schemes had gained traction online, with over 870,000 signatures by Monday. Hancock told BBC that Rashford and Boris Johnson had been in touch, saying "there has been communication between the two". He also expected the matter to be followed up. Also read: UK pub bans Rishi Sunak for life after he voted against free school meals In conversation with the BBC, Hancock also defended the government's stance in terms of its refusal to extend help programmes. According to Hancock, the government has increased Universal Credit, and has also allocated £63m to authorities at the local level. In mid-October, Conservative MPs voted against Labour Party's attempt to continue the free meals schemes by 322 votes to 261. In 2019, about 1.3 million children availed free meals scheme in England - this constitutes about 15% of school students in the country. According to the Food Foundation, 900,000 children in England have tried to avail free meals since the pandemic began.

England: Debate over free school meals accelerates as half term begins

The accessory of 2020 - the face mask - was combined with 1920s themed fineries by guests forming a socially distanced queue for the relaunch of the London show "The Great Gatsby" on Thursday (October 22) evening.

'The Great Gatsby' back on stage in London

The Royal Opera House sold a painting by British artist David Hockney for 12.8 million pounds at an auction in London on Thursday (October 22) amid efforts to survive the coronavirus crisis.

Royal Opera House sells Hockney for £12.8 million amid crisis

James Bay will play live from Shakespeare's Globe in London on Wednesday (October 21), with his band. The concert by the Grammy-nominated and Brit and Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist will be livestreamed at 2000 EST/PST (0400 BST/0300 GMT on October 22) to fans who buy tickets, which are on sale via a link in the artist's bio on his Instagram page.

James Bay to play live online concert from Shakespeare's Globe

Fans of some of the biggest blockbusters from the past decades will soon be able to recreate their favourite scenes at home as nearly 1,000 pieces of movie memorabilia go on sale in an online auction.

Brad Pitt's 'Fight Club' jacket, 'Pretty Woman' boots up for sale in memorabilia auction

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reached a moment of truth on the two issues that have dominated Britain this year: the pandemic and Brexit negotiations with the European Union. But he is still playing for time — a strategy that could put lives or livelihoods at risk if he waits too long.

On Thursday, Johnson inched closer to imposing a second lockdown on the country, moving London to a higher level of restrictions and signaling that he wanted to move Manchester to the highest level, joining Liverpool. But he stuck to his claim that the best way to curb the virus was through targeted responses, not the two-week nationwide lockdown pushed by the opposition Labour Party and his own scientific advisers.

The prime minister also seemed ready to string out trade talks with Brussels, letting a self-imposed deadline pass on Thursday without a deal. While Johnson could torpedo the negotiations on Friday, after a two-day summit meeting of EU leaders, analysts said the British government still appeared eager to strike an agreement by the legal deadline of Dec. 31.

For Johnson, Brexit and the virus are linked: the economic turmoil unleashed by the pandemic has raised the pressure on him to avoid the self-inflicted disruption of a ruptured negotiation with the EU, and the damaging prospect of beginning the new year without a trade agreement in place.

Yet his reluctance to move decisively on either of them, analysts say, risks making both worse.

Dragging out the talks with Brussels could put Britain in a bind if the two sides hit an impasse as the clock runs out. Putting off a short lockdown — which experts have dubbed a “circuit breaker” — could vitiate its effectiveness in curbing the virus’ spread and necessitate a longer lockdown later, according to medical experts.

“If you’re going to do it, do it early, fast and hard,” said Devi Sridhar, chair of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh. “The longer they delay, the less likely a two-week circuit breaker will work.”

Scientists have proposed that the government schedule the temporary lockdown for the last week of October and first week of November, when schools are closed for midterm break, to make it less disruptive. But some experts questioned whether that would leave enough time to prepare the public for the restrictions.

Britain has missed its chance at earlier action on a midterm lockdown that might have stemmed the latest surge, but it could still be valuable in slowing the spread, said Graham Medley, professor of infectious disease modeling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who advises the government. “We haven’t missed the boat of it epidemiologically as a strategy,” he said.

Britain has recorded about 16,000 new coronavirus cases per day, on average, over the past week — the most since the pandemic began, and a tenfold increase in just six weeks. Nearly 800 people were admitted to hospitals on Thursday, and 563 patients were on ventilators, raising fears that intensive care units will soon be overwhelmed.

The figures have climbed sharply despite an array of new restrictions adopted after government scientists warned last month that without further action, the caseload could reach 50,000 a day by this point.

While the outbreak has been worst in the north and west of England, there are signs that it is spreading across the country. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, pressed the government to raise the city’s status to a high alert level, which prohibits indoor socializing by people from different households, as of Saturday.

But other mayors lashed out against the restrictions. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, rejected the move to elevate his city to the highest-risk tier, which involves closing pubs and gyms. Burnham, who like Khan is a member of the Labour Party, demanded that the government provide more financial aid to pubs and other businesses that he said would be devastated by the lockdown.

“We will not cave into all the pressure that is being applied to us,” the mayor said in an angry video posted on Twitter. “We will not let them be leveled down by this government through this pandemic.”

For weeks now, Johnson has balanced calls from his scientific advisers for tighter measures with warnings from members of his Conservative Party that a lockdown or similarly draconian measures would wreck the economy.

The political consensus that once characterized Britain’s response to the pandemic has now fractured in both parties, however. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, threw his weight behind a temporary lockdown, while Johnson remains at odds not only with members of his party but also with some in his Cabinet: the popular chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is resisting the push for a lockdown.

“We are effectively burning the furniture to keep warm now,” said Steve Baker, a Conservative lawmaker and one of the leaders of a campaign for Parliament to have a greater say over coronavirus rules. “If we have to continue like that for another three to six months until there is a vaccine, that poses grave risks to the economy.”

Adding to the pressure on Johnson, public-opinion surveys show clear support in the British public for stricter measures, up to and including a “circuit breaker” — though Britons are split about a lengthier lockdown.

By embracing the idea, analysts said, Starmer had effectively boxed in Johnson.

“If the prime minister moves toward a national lockdown, that will look like he’s changed his mind and moved toward Keir Starmer,” said Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos/MORI, a polling company. “If he doesn’t, then Labour will presumably say in response to any bad news, ‘You should have listened to us.’ From a political situation, Keir Starmer doesn’t face much risk.”

However treacherous the political landscape for Johnson, the Labour Party’s call for a lockdown might actually strengthen the prime minister’s hand with his own party in the short term. Johnson’s Conservative critics, some observers say, may realize that with public opinion and the opposition running against them, they cannot hope for more than the prime minister’s efforts to seek a middle ground.

“It is dawning on them that this is as good as you are going to get,” said David Gauke, a Conservative former lawmaker who fell out with Johnson over Brexit. “No prime minister is going to be more libertarian than Boris Johnson in this particular set of circumstances.”

This time last year, Johnson faced down resistance by Baker and his hard-line allies on Brexit. He did it by talking tough with Brussels and then cutting a deal that he presented as a triumph — a playbook he appears to be trying to use again.

Johnson’s aides insist a trade agreement is within reach if talks can be intensified on the key issues: fishing quotas and state aid to industry. But the longer they drag on, the greater the uncertainty for British exporters — and the greater the leverage for Brussels.

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reached a moment of truth on the two issues that have dominated Britain this year: the pandemic and Brexit negotiations with the European Union.

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has reached a moment of truth on the two issues that have dominated Britain this year: the pandemic and Brexit negotiations with the European Union. But he is still playing for time — a strategy that could put lives or livelihoods at risk if he waits too long. On Thursday, Johnson inched closer to imposing a second lockdown on the country, moving London to a higher level of restrictions and signaling that he wanted to move Manchester to the highest level, joining Liverpool. But he stuck to his claim that the best way to curb the virus was through targeted responses, not the two-week nationwide lockdown pushed by the opposition Labour Party and his own scientific advisers. The prime minister also seemed ready to string out trade talks with Brussels, letting a self-imposed deadline pass on Thursday without a deal. While Johnson could torpedo the negotiations on Friday, after a two-day summit meeting of EU leaders, analysts said the British government still appeared eager to strike an agreement by the legal deadline of Dec. 31. For Johnson, Brexit and the virus are linked: the economic turmoil unleashed by the pandemic has raised the pressure on him to avoid the self-inflicted disruption of a ruptured negotiation with the EU, and the damaging prospect of beginning the new year without a trade agreement in place. Yet his reluctance to move decisively on either of them, analysts say, risks making both worse. Dragging out the talks with Brussels could put Britain in a bind if the two sides hit an impasse as the clock runs out. Putting off a short lockdown — which experts have dubbed a “circuit breaker” — could vitiate its effectiveness in curbing the virus’ spread and necessitate a longer lockdown later, according to medical experts. “If you’re going to do it, do it early, fast and hard,” said Devi Sridhar, chair of the global public health program at the University of Edinburgh. “The longer they delay, the less likely a two-week circuit breaker will work.” Scientists have proposed that the government schedule the temporary lockdown for the last week of October and first week of November, when schools are closed for midterm break, to make it less disruptive. But some experts questioned whether that would leave enough time to prepare the public for the restrictions. Britain has missed its chance at earlier action on a midterm lockdown that might have stemmed the latest surge, but it could still be valuable in slowing the spread, said Graham Medley, professor of infectious disease modeling at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who advises the government. “We haven’t missed the boat of it epidemiologically as a strategy,” he said. Britain has recorded about 16,000 new coronavirus cases per day, on average, over the past week — the most since the pandemic began, and a tenfold increase in just six weeks. Nearly 800 people were admitted to hospitals on Thursday, and 563 patients were on ventilators, raising fears that intensive care units will soon be overwhelmed. The figures have climbed sharply despite an array of new restrictions adopted after government scientists warned last month that without further action, the caseload could reach 50,000 a day by this point. While the outbreak has been worst in the north and west of England, there are signs that it is spreading across the country. The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, pressed the government to raise the city’s status to a high alert level, which prohibits indoor socializing by people from different households, as of Saturday. But other mayors lashed out against the restrictions. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, rejected the move to elevate his city to the highest-risk tier, which involves closing pubs and gyms. Burnham, who like Khan is a member of the Labour Party, demanded that the government provide more financial aid to pubs and other businesses that he said would be devastated by the lockdown. “We will not cave into all the pressure that is being applied to us,” the mayor said in an angry video posted on Twitter. “We will not let them be leveled down by this government through this pandemic.” For weeks now, Johnson has balanced calls from his scientific advisers for tighter measures with warnings from members of his Conservative Party that a lockdown or similarly draconian measures would wreck the economy. The political consensus that once characterized Britain’s response to the pandemic has now fractured in both parties, however. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, threw his weight behind a temporary lockdown, while Johnson remains at odds not only with members of his party but also with some in his Cabinet: the popular chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is resisting the push for a lockdown. “We are effectively burning the furniture to keep warm now,” said Steve Baker, a Conservative lawmaker and one of the leaders of a campaign for Parliament to have a greater say over coronavirus rules. “If we have to continue like that for another three to six months until there is a vaccine, that poses grave risks to the economy.” Adding to the pressure on Johnson, public-opinion surveys show clear support in the British public for stricter measures, up to and including a “circuit breaker” — though Britons are split about a lengthier lockdown. By embracing the idea, analysts said, Starmer had effectively boxed in Johnson. “If the prime minister moves toward a national lockdown, that will look like he’s changed his mind and moved toward Keir Starmer,” said Keiran Pedley, director of politics at Ipsos/MORI, a polling company. “If he doesn’t, then Labour will presumably say in response to any bad news, ‘You should have listened to us.’ From a political situation, Keir Starmer doesn’t face much risk.” However treacherous the political landscape for Johnson, the Labour Party’s call for a lockdown might actually strengthen the prime minister’s hand with his own party in the short term. Johnson’s Conservative critics, some observers say, may realize that with public opinion and the opposition running against them, they cannot hope for more than the prime minister’s efforts to seek a middle ground. “It is dawning on them that this is as good as you are going to get,” said David Gauke, a Conservative former lawmaker who fell out with Johnson over Brexit. “No prime minister is going to be more libertarian than Boris Johnson in this particular set of circumstances.” This time last year, Johnson faced down resistance by Baker and his hard-line allies on Brexit. He did it by talking tough with Brussels and then cutting a deal that he presented as a triumph — a playbook he appears to be trying to use again. Johnson’s aides insist a trade agreement is within reach if talks can be intensified on the key issues: fishing quotas and state aid to industry. But the longer they drag on, the greater the uncertainty for British exporters — and the greater the leverage for Brussels.

As virus surges and Brexit bears down, Boris Johnson stalls for time

The&nbsp;European Union demanded "substantive" movement on Tuesday from Britain on fisheries, dispute settlement and guarantees of fair competition in their talks on a post-Brexit trade deal, with Germany saying they were at a "critical stage".

France said the 27-nation bloc must not yield on fishing rights, while Ireland - the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;member most exposed to any abrupt economic split at the end of the year - said Britain was running out of time to seal the terms of a deal.

Britain, the world's sixth-biggest economy, left the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;in January and has since been locked in painstaking talks with the world's largest trading bloc to keep trade flowing freely.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/business-economy/eu-wins-tariff-clearance-on-4-billion-of-us-imports-in-boeing-case-335072" hreflang="en">EU wins tariff clearance on $4 billion of US imports in Boeing case</a>

EU&nbsp;leaders hold a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to assess progress, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said he wants to know by Oct. 15 if a deal can be reached.

The&nbsp;European affairs minister of Germany - current holder of the bloc's rotating presidency - said the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;was working hard for a deal but was ready if necessary to trade from 2021 without an accord.

"We are at a very critical stage in the negotiations and we are extremely under pressure," Michael Roth told his 26 fellow ministers. "In terms of substance we have not really made progress."

"We expect substantial progress by our friends in the United Kingdom in key areas: in particular on governance, 'level playing field' and fisheries."

Roth said the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;would step up contingency planning in case of failure in the negotiations on a new partnership - which is meant to cover many areas from trade to transport and nuclear ties - from Jan. 1, when London's post-Brexit standstill transition ends.

A trillion&nbsp;euros of annual trade are at stake.

Johnson's spokesman reiterated Britain's stance that it wants a deal "on the right terms": "... if we can't get there we are ready and willing to move forward with an Australian-style outcome which holds no fear."

The bulk of Australia's exports to the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;are subject to tariffs and quotas set under World Trade Organization terms.

LONG ROAD, LITTLE TIME

Johnson, a key face of the 2016 Brexit campaign, has spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days, and was due to speak on Wednesday with the head of the&nbsp;EU's executive, Ursula von der Leyen.

On Tuesday, Merkel said a deal was "in the interests of all" but also flagged the need to prepare for a no-deal outcome.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/eu-unity-on-getting-a-fair-brexit-deal-strong-says-chief-negotiator-barnier-334978" hreflang="en">EU unity on getting a fair Brexit deal strong, says chief negotiator Barnier</a>

The&nbsp;EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been downbeat in his assessment of progress, an&nbsp;EU&nbsp;diplomat said: "It is far from sufficient. 'Level playing field', fisheries and enforcement measures remain the key controversial issues."

France has shown little willingness to compromise over future access to fishing waters and sharing quotas, despite growing pressure from others in the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;to help unlock a deal.

French&nbsp;Europe Minister Clement Beaune said the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;must be "very firm" on its priorities, and that safeguards of fair competition were a must to access the&nbsp;EU's internal market of 450 million people without trade barriers.

Macron is expected to hammer home that message at the summit. But, with markets increasingly jittery, the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;leaders also appear certain to grant Britain time for more talks.

"The road ahead is still long and we have little time," said another&nbsp;EU&nbsp;diplomat.

The&nbsp;EU&nbsp;says a deal must be agreed this month to leave time for ratification by the&nbsp;European Parliament. However,&nbsp;EU&nbsp;diplomats told Reuters the bloc was gearing up to negotiate until mid-November to avoid being assigned blame for any fiasco.

"We will negotiate until the last minute," said Konrad Szymanski,&nbsp;European affairs minister of Poland, one of the&nbsp;EU&nbsp;states most keen to keep close ties with Britain.

The European Union demanded "substantive" movement on Tuesday from Britain on fisheries, dispute settlement and guarantees of fair competition in their talks on a post-Brexit trade deal, with Germany saying they were at a "critical stage".

The European Union demanded "substantive" movement on Tuesday from Britain on fisheries, dispute settlement and guarantees of fair competition in their talks on a post-Brexit trade deal, with Germany saying they were at a "critical stage". France said the 27-nation bloc must not yield on fishing rights, while Ireland - the EU member most exposed to any abrupt economic split at the end of the year - said Britain was running out of time to seal the terms of a deal. Britain, the world's sixth-biggest economy, left the EU in January and has since been locked in painstaking talks with the world's largest trading bloc to keep trade flowing freely. Also read: EU wins tariff clearance on $4 billion of US imports in Boeing case EU leaders hold a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to assess progress, and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also said he wants to know by Oct. 15 if a deal can be reached. The European affairs minister of Germany - current holder of the bloc's rotating presidency - said the EU was working hard for a deal but was ready if necessary to trade from 2021 without an accord. "We are at a very critical stage in the negotiations and we are extremely under pressure," Michael Roth told his 26 fellow ministers. "In terms of substance we have not really made progress." "We expect substantial progress by our friends in the United Kingdom in key areas: in particular on governance, 'level playing field' and fisheries." Roth said the EU would step up contingency planning in case of failure in the negotiations on a new partnership - which is meant to cover many areas from trade to transport and nuclear ties - from Jan. 1, when London's post-Brexit standstill transition ends. A trillion euros of annual trade are at stake. Johnson's spokesman reiterated Britain's stance that it wants a deal "on the right terms": "... if we can't get there we are ready and willing to move forward with an Australian-style outcome which holds no fear." The bulk of Australia's exports to the EU are subject to tariffs and quotas set under World Trade Organization terms. LONG ROAD, LITTLE TIME Johnson, a key face of the 2016 Brexit campaign, has spoken with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days, and was due to speak on Wednesday with the head of the EU's executive, Ursula von der Leyen. On Tuesday, Merkel said a deal was "in the interests of all" but also flagged the need to prepare for a no-deal outcome. Also read: EU unity on getting a fair Brexit deal strong, says chief negotiator Barnier The EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has been downbeat in his assessment of progress, an EU diplomat said: "It is far from sufficient. 'Level playing field', fisheries and enforcement measures remain the key controversial issues." France has shown little willingness to compromise over future access to fishing waters and sharing quotas, despite growing pressure from others in the EU to help unlock a deal. French Europe Minister Clement Beaune said the EU must be "very firm" on its priorities, and that safeguards of fair competition were a must to access the EU's internal market of 450 million people without trade barriers. Macron is expected to hammer home that message at the summit. But, with markets increasingly jittery, the EU leaders also appear certain to grant Britain time for more talks. "The road ahead is still long and we have little time," said another EU diplomat. The EU says a deal must be agreed this month to leave time for ratification by the European Parliament. However, EU diplomats told Reuters the bloc was gearing up to negotiate until mid-November to avoid being assigned blame for any fiasco. "We will negotiate until the last minute," said Konrad Szymanski, European affairs minister of Poland, one of the EU states most keen to keep close ties with Britain.

EU pushes UK to budge at 'critical stage' in Brexit talks

The Royal Ballet, Britain's largest ballet company, leaps back into action on Friday (October 9) after seven months of COVID-19 gloom with an extravaganza that mixes classics such as Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote with playful modern dance.

Royal Ballet leaps out of lockdown with online extravaganza

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year.

The victims, nine of whom were teenagers and two aged just 15, were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays, about 20 miles (32 km) east of the British capital - a shocking incident which shone a light on global people smuggling.

Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones said the dead had been sealed inside a refrigeration unit, which was not turned on, in pitch black for at least 12 hours as the temperature rose to an unbearable 38.5 Celsius (101.3 F).

"What it must have been like inside that lorry does not bear thinking about," he said. "In short, they suffocated. There were no survivors."

He said an unsent text message on the phone of one dead woman, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, 28, read: "Maybe going to die in the container, can't breathe any more, dear."

An Irish haulage boss, Ronan Hughes, 41, and Maurice Robinson, 26, from Northern Ireland, the driver of the truck, have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On Wednesday, four other men accused of being part of the people-smuggling ring went on trial at London's Old Bailey court.

British-Romanian dual national Gheorghe Nica, 43, and Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, deny manslaughter, while Harrison, Christopher Kennedy, 24, and Valentin Calota, 37, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Nica admitted that offence earlier on Wednesday, but denies any involvement in the fatal incident.

The Vietnamese migrants' journey began in northern Europe on Oct. 22 when the container was driven by Harrison to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for England, Emlyn Jones said.

Shortly after midnight on Oct. 23 at the English port of Purfleet, it was picked up by Robinson. He stopped almost immediately after being sent a message by his boss which said: "Give them air quickly, but don’t let them out".

"What he found must haunt him still," Emlyn Jones told the court. "For the 39 men and women inside, that trailer had become their tomb."

HUGE SUMS

The prosecutor said there were huge sums to be made from people smuggling, with people paying upwards of 10,000 pounds ($12,887.00) to cross the English Channel in the back of a truck.

He said the gang had successfully brought in truckloads of migrants previously, with Nica organising their dispersal and Calota one of their drivers. In May 2018, Harrison was stopped at Coquelles in northern France with 18 Vietnamese nationals hidden in his truck. He was given a fine, but never paid it.

On this occasion, however, Emlyn Jones said something "went dreadfully wrong". Truck driver Kennedy, who was not involved in the fatal trip, texted a friend on the morning the bodies were found, saying: "Must have been too many and run out of air".

Most of the 39 victims - 28 men, eight women and three boys aged between 15 and 44 - were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, where poor job prospects and other factors spur migration.

Last month, a court in Vietnam sentenced four Vietnamese people to between 2-1/2 and 7-1/2 years in prison for their role in the deaths. Police said the defendants had arranged for one of the women to travel illegally to France and then to Britain for $22,000.

The trial at London's Central Court is expected to last about six weeks.

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year.

Two members of an alleged people-smuggling gang stood trial on Wednesday accused of being responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese men, women and boys found suffocated in a stifling, airtight shipping container near London last year. The victims, nine of whom were teenagers and two aged just 15, were discovered last October in a container at the back of a truck on an industrial estate in Grays, about 20 miles (32 km) east of the British capital - a shocking incident which shone a light on global people smuggling. Prosecutor William Emlyn Jones said the dead had been sealed inside a refrigeration unit, which was not turned on, in pitch black for at least 12 hours as the temperature rose to an unbearable 38.5 Celsius (101.3 F). "What it must have been like inside that lorry does not bear thinking about," he said. "In short, they suffocated. There were no survivors." He said an unsent text message on the phone of one dead woman, Pham Thi Ngoc Oanh, 28, read: "Maybe going to die in the container, can't breathe any more, dear." An Irish haulage boss, Ronan Hughes, 41, and Maurice Robinson, 26, from Northern Ireland, the driver of the truck, have already pleaded guilty to manslaughter. On Wednesday, four other men accused of being part of the people-smuggling ring went on trial at London's Old Bailey court. British-Romanian dual national Gheorghe Nica, 43, and Eamonn Harrison, 23, from Northern Ireland, deny manslaughter, while Harrison, Christopher Kennedy, 24, and Valentin Calota, 37, deny conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Nica admitted that offence earlier on Wednesday, but denies any involvement in the fatal incident. The Vietnamese migrants' journey began in northern Europe on Oct. 22 when the container was driven by Harrison to the Belgian port of Zeebrugge where it was loaded onto a cargo ship for England, Emlyn Jones said. Shortly after midnight on Oct. 23 at the English port of Purfleet, it was picked up by Robinson. He stopped almost immediately after being sent a message by his boss which said: "Give them air quickly, but don’t let them out". "What he found must haunt him still," Emlyn Jones told the court. "For the 39 men and women inside, that trailer had become their tomb." HUGE SUMS The prosecutor said there were huge sums to be made from people smuggling, with people paying upwards of 10,000 pounds ($12,887.00) to cross the English Channel in the back of a truck. He said the gang had successfully brought in truckloads of migrants previously, with Nica organising their dispersal and Calota one of their drivers. In May 2018, Harrison was stopped at Coquelles in northern France with 18 Vietnamese nationals hidden in his truck. He was given a fine, but never paid it. On this occasion, however, Emlyn Jones said something "went dreadfully wrong". Truck driver Kennedy, who was not involved in the fatal trip, texted a friend on the morning the bodies were found, saying: "Must have been too many and run out of air". Most of the 39 victims - 28 men, eight women and three boys aged between 15 and 44 - were from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces in north-central Vietnam, where poor job prospects and other factors spur migration. Last month, a court in Vietnam sentenced four Vietnamese people to between 2-1/2 and 7-1/2 years in prison for their role in the deaths. Police said the defendants had arranged for one of the women to travel illegally to France and then to Britain for $22,000. The trial at London's Central Court is expected to last about six weeks.

Four men on trial over death of 39 Vietnamese migrants in UK truck container

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

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

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

UK PM Johnson says COVID cases rising but lockdown approach correct

Self-employed musicians staged a performance in London's Parliament Square on Tuesday (October 6) to publicise the need for support for those in the performing arts sector.

Musicians call for UK government support over loss of work

Eleven locations around the UK were honoured on Monday (October 5) with their very own Quidditch team banners to mark the launch of a new sporting companion book to the Harry Potter series.

Quidditch towns honoured to mark Harry Potter companion book launch

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

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

The UK is trying out a distinct way to honour its Black population in view of Black History Month - it is repainting a few of its signature red postboxes!

The red pillar post boxes are considered symbolic of Britain and can be seen on an array of items including postcards.

Earlier, the Royal Mail had decided to choose a postbox each in all constituent territories of the United Kingdom - England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e034de18-d92e-4d3a-b868-4eeaec015df9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_109.jpg" />A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020 | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

As visible in the pictures, the top of all postboxes are painted black with a gold rim. These shall remain this way for all of October which is marked as Black History Month.

The postbox in Britain which has been repainted is stationed nearby the Black Cultural Archives heritage centre in South London, which is a hub for the Caribbean community and other Black groups.

In Britain, the postbox features an image of “Queuing at the RA”, a painting by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, who is known for art grappling with cultural identity and the remnants of colonialism.

<h6><img alt="A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="323b16e2-3440-4ddf-8111-34d42cbcadd7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_77.jpg" />A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020 | Reuters</h6>

&nbsp;

Scotland’s black postbox in Glasgow carries the image of Walter Tull, the first Black player to be signed in the city’s soccer team - the Rangers. He was later killed during the First World War.

Cardiff in Wales spots the image of Jamaican nurse Mary Seattle, who cared for soldiers during the Crimean War between 1853-1856.

The postbox in Northern Ireland features the picture of comedian Lenny Henry. The Royal Mail claimed that he was “instrumental in helping a multi-cultural society to embrace multi-cultural comedy".

The UK is trying out a distinct way to honour its Black population in view of Black History Month - it is repainting a few of its signature red postboxes! The red pillar post boxes are considered symbolic of Britain and can be seen on an array of items including postcards.

The UK is trying out a distinct way to honour its Black population in view of Black History Month - it is repainting a few of its signature red postboxes! The red pillar post boxes are considered symbolic of Britain and can be seen on an array of items including postcards. Earlier, the Royal Mail had decided to choose a postbox each in all constituent territories of the United Kingdom - England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020 | Reuters As visible in the pictures, the top of all postboxes are painted black with a gold rim. These shall remain this way for all of October which is marked as Black History Month. The postbox in Britain which has been repainted is stationed nearby the Black Cultural Archives heritage centre in South London, which is a hub for the Caribbean community and other Black groups. In Britain, the postbox features an image of “Queuing at the RA”, a painting by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare, who is known for art grappling with cultural identity and the remnants of colonialism. A pedestrian films a Royal Mail postbox, painted black instead of traditional red, to honour Black Britons, as part of the forthcoming Black History Month, in Brixton, London, Britain, September 30, 2020 | Reuters Scotland’s black postbox in Glasgow carries the image of Walter Tull, the first Black player to be signed in the city’s soccer team - the Rangers. He was later killed during the First World War. Cardiff in Wales spots the image of Jamaican nurse Mary Seattle, who cared for soldiers during the Crimean War between 1853-1856. The postbox in Northern Ireland features the picture of comedian Lenny Henry. The Royal Mail claimed that he was “instrumental in helping a multi-cultural society to embrace multi-cultural comedy".

UK paints its signature postboxes black in honour of Black History Month

The United Kingdom could soon give its spies and secret service agents 'The Licence to Kill'. Reportedly, the MI5 will be given the power to sanction its agents to carry out 'necessary and proportionate' crimes in the line of duty. What does this mean? WION's Palki Sarma has a report.

Gravitas: Licence to kill for British spies?

Pubs, bars and restaurants throughout Britain got to grips with new operating restrictions on Thursday (September 24) after they were introduced by the government to curb rising COVID-19 infections.

British bars and pubs adapt to new coronavirus rules

Bristol's flagship concert venue Colston Hall, named after a 17th Century English slave trader, received a new name 'Bristol Beacon' on Wednesday (September 23).

English Concert hall named after slave trade Colson gets new name

Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, the independent body that recommends legal change said on Wednesday, as it launched a consultation on updating hate crime laws.

The Law Commission said the proposal would give women specific protection from crimes such as assault and harassment where they were targeted on the basis of their sex.

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Women's rights activists have long called for such protections, which already exist for race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity and can lead to harsher penalties for those convicted.

"Misogyny is the soil which violence against women and girls grows in and this is our chance to tackle it," said opposition lawmaker Stella Creasy, who has campaigned for the change.

"This review is a landmark opportunity for us to develop a hate crime law which is intersectional and reflects women and girls experiences of harassment and crime," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

In a statement, she said seven police forces in Britain already treated misogyny as a hate crime, which had yielded results in tackling violence against women.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/take-action-against-modern-slavery-uk-orders-its-public-sector-329445" hreflang="en">Take action against modern slavery, UK orders its public sector</a>

The consultation, which is open to experts as well as those who have experienced hate crime, is open until December 24 and will inform final recommendations to the government to be published next year.

It will also look at expanding hate crime protections on the basis of age, and expanding the offence of racist chanting at football matches to cover homophobic chanting.

"Hate crime has no place in our society and we have seen the terrible impact that it can have on victims," said Criminal Law Commissioner Penney Lewis.

"Our proposals will ensure all protected characteristics are treated in the same way, and that women enjoy hate crime protection for the first time."

Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, the independent body that recommends legal change said on Wednesday, as it launched a consultation on updating hate crime laws.

Misogyny should be made a hate crime in England and Wales, the independent body that recommends legal change said on Wednesday, as it launched a consultation on updating hate crime laws. The Law Commission said the proposal would give women specific protection from crimes such as assault and harassment where they were targeted on the basis of their sex. Also read: UK's Prince Harry and wife Meghan encourage Americans to vote in 'most important' election Women's rights activists have long called for such protections, which already exist for race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and transgender identity and can lead to harsher penalties for those convicted. "Misogyny is the soil which violence against women and girls grows in and this is our chance to tackle it," said opposition lawmaker Stella Creasy, who has campaigned for the change. "This review is a landmark opportunity for us to develop a hate crime law which is intersectional and reflects women and girls experiences of harassment and crime," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. In a statement, she said seven police forces in Britain already treated misogyny as a hate crime, which had yielded results in tackling violence against women. Also read: Take action against modern slavery, UK orders its public sector The consultation, which is open to experts as well as those who have experienced hate crime, is open until December 24 and will inform final recommendations to the government to be published next year. It will also look at expanding hate crime protections on the basis of age, and expanding the offence of racist chanting at football matches to cover homophobic chanting. "Hate crime has no place in our society and we have seen the terrible impact that it can have on victims," said Criminal Law Commissioner Penney Lewis. "Our proposals will ensure all protected characteristics are treated in the same way, and that women enjoy hate crime protection for the first time."

Misogyny should qualify as a hate crime, UK legal regulator says

The British government has asked public bodies to ensure they do not engage in modern slavery, as part of measures announced on Tuesday.

Starting now, all public-sector organisations that have a budget over $46 million (36 million pounds) will be required to file an annual statement highlighting their efforts to counter modern slavery.

More penalties needed

Britain’s Modern Slavery Act, 2015, requires big businesses to present such a statement. However, critics feel more penalties and compliance is needed for effectiveness.

According to Victoria Atkins, minister for safeguarding and vulnerability, no sector was "immune from the risks of modern slavery".

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"We expect businesses and public bodies to be open about the risks, including where they have found instances of exploitation and to demonstrate how they are taking targeted and sustained action to tackle modern slavery," Atkins claimed in a statement.

In March, the British government had published its own anti-slavery statement. It cited construction, electronics, and service providers of cooks and cleaners as the most risky sectors.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/uk-upgrades-virus-alert-level-pm-johnson-set-to-announce-new-measures-329290" hreflang="en">UK upgrades virus alert level; PM Johnson set to announce new measures</a>

The statement claims how owing to complex global supply chains, “effective oversight is difficult to achieve”.

The Home Office of UK’s interior ministry is planning to launch a digital system to counter modern slavery, and to set up a single enforcement body to address employment rights.

Sara Thornton, the UK’s anti-slavery commissioner claimed that laws required to implement anti-slavery steps should be developed quickly.

The British government has asked public bodies to ensure they do not engage in modern slavery, as part of measures announced on Tuesday. Starting now, all public-sector organisations that have a budget over $46 million (36 million pounds) will be required to file an annual statement highlighting their efforts to counter modern slavery.

The British government has asked public bodies to ensure they do not engage in modern slavery, as part of measures announced on Tuesday. Starting now, all public-sector organisations that have a budget over $46 million (36 million pounds) will be required to file an annual statement highlighting their efforts to counter modern slavery. More penalties needed Britain’s Modern Slavery Act, 2015, requires big businesses to present such a statement. However, critics feel more penalties and compliance is needed for effectiveness. According to Victoria Atkins, minister for safeguarding and vulnerability, no sector was "immune from the risks of modern slavery". Also read: Wildfire smoke from US crosses the Atlantic Ocean; seen in parts of Finland, UK "We expect businesses and public bodies to be open about the risks, including where they have found instances of exploitation and to demonstrate how they are taking targeted and sustained action to tackle modern slavery," Atkins claimed in a statement. In March, the British government had published its own anti-slavery statement. It cited construction, electronics, and service providers of cooks and cleaners as the most risky sectors. Also read: UK upgrades virus alert level; PM Johnson set to announce new measures The statement claims how owing to complex global supply chains, “effective oversight is difficult to achieve”. The Home Office of UK’s interior ministry is planning to launch a digital system to counter modern slavery, and to set up a single enforcement body to address employment rights. Sara Thornton, the UK’s anti-slavery commissioner claimed that laws required to implement anti-slavery steps should be developed quickly.

Take action against modern slavery, UK orders its public sector

Masks, social distancing and plastic screens dominated commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain on Sunday (September 20) as London hosted scaled back celebrations to mark the event.

Scaled back celebrations mark 80th anniversary of Battle of Britain

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