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Category: UK News

  • British Indians Rap Plot To Create Rift

    British Indians Rap Plot To Create Rift

    Faith organisations of the Indian diaspora issued a joint statement and expressed concerns over the move to communalise the farmers protest, reports Asian Lite News

    Prominent Indian forums in the United Kingdom condemned the move by Khalistani miscreants with the support of some parliamentarians to divide the community by spreading fake news about the farm protest in India.

    Faith organisations of the Indian diaspora issued a joint statement and expressed concerns over the move to communalise the farmers protest.

    “We note with concern the continuing attempts being made to communalise the Indian Farmers Protest against the three farming laws as being a faith-based issue,” they said in the statement. “The fact is that the Indian Farmers practice different faiths and that this is an issue of their common interest. As is always the case there are people on both sides of the argument.

    “We fully respect the right to peaceful protest, humanitarian support and freedom of speech in a responsible manner as part of democratic traditions. We condemn attempts to communalise the Farmers protest and urge everyone to remain vigil.  The community cohesion in Britain needs safeguarding and nurturing whilst this campaign is underway in India. On this issue we stand in solidarity.”

    Mr Umesh Sharma, Chairman, Hindu Council UK; Mr Hamid Malik,  Founder/ President,  Federation of Indian Muslim Organisations, Midlands – UK;  Mr Arun Thakur,  President,  National Council of Hindu Temples UK;  Mr Gurmel Singh, Secretary General, Supreme Sikh Council UK were among the signatories.

    In another development, the largest organisation of the Malayalee community in Britain joined the condemnation. UUKMA (Union of UK Malayalee Associations ), an umbrella forum of 114 associations representing 100,000 plus Keralites, condemned the move.

    “We condemn in unequivocal terms about the irresponsible efforts by certain communal groups and media in the UK to sensationalise the ongoing farmers protest and to create communal tension in the UK, the organisation said in a statement. “The farmers protest in India is NOT a communal issue but part of its democracy. Indians cutting across religious or regional identities are supporting or are opposing the agriculture reform laws enacted by the Indian parliament.

    “Indians settled in the UK have been enjoying strong traditional inter-community relationship and enjoys their right to exercise their democratic rights independently and respectfully as well. We urge media and all community organisations in the UK to refrain from inflammatory statements and activities that can damage inter-community harmony in the UK.”

    The statement was signed by Manojkumar Pillai, National President of the UUKMA and Alex Varghese, National General Secretary.

    Also Read – Asian Media & Professional Talents Honoured in London

  • Boris Sets Out Four-Step Exit Plan

    Boris Sets Out Four-Step Exit Plan

    London will back to normal soon. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that it is “so crucial that this road map should be cautious, but also irreversible”, reports Asian Lite Newsdesk

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has set out the government’s plan for a four-stage exit from the  national lockdown, which will see some sectors shuttered until at least June.

    Johnson told the House of Commons that it is “so crucial that this road map should be cautious, but also irreversible.”

    The easing of curbs imposed nationwide will begin on March 8 and, depending on infection rates, the country is expected to return to normal by late June.

    Step one of easing of the national lockdown will begin with schools reopening for all pupils on March 8, followed by outdoor gatherings of either six people or two households outdoors from March 29. The ‘stay at home’ order will be lifted on this day.

    https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1363874082593341448

    Outdoor sports, including football, golf and tennis, will be allowed to resume from 29 March as well.

    From April 12, that is step two, non-essential shops, hairdressers, outdoor attractions including zoos and theme parks, indoor gyms and swimming pools, will be reopened. Self-catering accommodation and public buildings such as libraries and museum can also be reopened at this stage.

    Step three would start on May 17 with most social contact rules lifted, as well as limited mixing indoors with 30 people. Cinemas, which have been closed since October, are learnt to be in stage 3 as per the exit plan.

    Also Read – UK to begin world’s first Covid human trials

    Pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers indoors from May 17.

    The prime minister has pinned hopes on step four, that is from June 21, to see the end of all legal limits on social contact and the businesses can reopen.

    The information on international travel and government’s decisions will be detailed in the coming months.

    People wearing face masks stand next to Christmas trees in London, Britain. (XinhuaHan Yan)

    According to reports, the government is also considering the idea of ‘Covid status certificates’, which could see those who have been vaccinated given certificates that will allow restrictions to be lifted more safely.

    Meanwhile, another 10,641 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,126,150, according to official figures released on Monday.

    Also Read: Hotel Quarantining Introduced to Arrivals in UK

    The country also reported another 178 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 120,757. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

    The latest figures were revealed as more than 17.5 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of a coronavirus vaccine.

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson walking out of No 10 Downing Street.

    Earlier on Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told Sky News that the first dose of a coronavirus vaccine appears to reduce the chances of transmitting the virus by “about two-thirds.”

    Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged that every adult in Britain will be given a jab of the Covid-19 vaccine by the end of July.

    According to Johnson, people aged 50 and over and those with underlying health conditions will now be offered a jab by April 15.

  • Johnson calls for ‘further, faster’ vax rollout

    Johnson calls for ‘further, faster’ vax rollout

    He said the July target would allow vulnerable people to be protected “sooner” and would help to further ease lockdown rules across the country….reports Asian Lite News

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhnLY3QX1bo

    UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed that UK offers first dose of a coronavirus vaccine to all adults by the end of July.

    UK’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout began in December 2020 has already reached more than 17 million people, the BBC reported on Saturday.

    But Johnson said he now wants the programme to “go further and faster”.

    He said the July target would allow vulnerable people to be protected “sooner” and would help to further ease lockdown rules across the country.

    The prime minister is expected to hold a final meeting on Sunday about how to ease England’s lockdown, before he sets out the full “road map” on Monday.

    • Prime Minister Boris Johnson holds a vial of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine Covid-19 candidate vaccine, known as AZD1222, at Wockhardt’s pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Wrexham, North Wales. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street

    A speedy rollout of the vaccine to all vulnerable people is seen as critical to reducing the pandemic’s death toll and relieving pressure on the NHS.

    The government’s previous target was to offer all adults the first dose by September.

    The new plans mean that by April 15, all adults aged 50 and over, as well as younger people with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk, should have been offered a jab.

    However, the order of priority in which the under-50s will be offered jabs has yet to be outlined by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

    The Labour welcomed the vaccine targets being moved forward, but called on the government to prioritise people based on their job.

    Shadow Health Secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: “It’s perfectly reasonable for teachers, police officers and other key workers who haven’t been able to stay at home in the lockdown to ask when their turn will be.

    “If government aren’t going to prioritise by occupation in the next phase, they need to set out why.”

    At least 17.2 million people in the UK have received their first dose of a vaccine at one of the 1,500 vaccination sites across the country, and almost 600,000 have received their second dose.

    The government has said it met its pledge of offering a vaccine to everyone in the top four priority groups – including those aged 70 and over, care home residents, healthcare workers and people required to shield – by February 15.

    Also read:India, China discuss disengagement at Hot Springs, Gogra, Depsang

  • £100 bn by 2030: India’s road map for enhanced trade ties with UK

    £100 bn by 2030: India’s road map for enhanced trade ties with UK

    As the UK leaves the European Union and inches closer to its discussion on the Enhanced Trade Partnership with India, the launch of this report therefore will be a strong marker of the India-UK economic relationship…a report by Rahul Laud

    The Britain Meets India report 2021 identifies the top UK companies in India in terms of revenue, growth and employment. It provides an insight into their geographic preferences, sectors and the impact they have on the Indian economy.

    As the UK leaves the European Union and inches closer to its discussion on the Enhanced Trade Partnership with India, the launch of this report therefore will be a strong marker of the India-UK economic relationship. It will also be an opportunity to highlight the role of British investments in India and attract future investors to make India as a choice of business destination, says a CII press release.

    The recently concluded virtual launch (17February 2021) of the report witnessed engaging discussions by eminent dignitaries such as HE Alexander Ellis CMG (British High Commissioner to the Republic of India), HE Gaitri Issar Kumar IFS (High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom), Lord Karan Bilimoria (Founder and Chairman, Cobra Beer and President of the Confederation of British Industry), Sandeep Chakravorty (Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs), Sanjiv Bajaj (Vice President, CII and Chairman & Managing Director, Bajaj Finserv Ltd) and experts from Grant Thornton Bharat and UK.

    Gaitri Issar Kumar, High Commissioner of India to UK, said, “The insights from this report will highlight successful collaborations, key complementarities as well as areas of potential. This will give confidence to future UK investors who are looking for a secure footing as they partner with India. We are developing a roadmap to a free trade agreement with an ambitious target of 100 billion pounds by 2030.”

     Alex Ellis CMG, High Commissioner of UK to India, “Both India and the UK must think about coming together to create a global impact. Both the economies will have to create a lot of jobs in the next decade and build back in a more sustainable way. Investment is not an abstract word. It’s actually about creation of more jobs, protection of our planet. It is also about the flow of ideas and talent between the two countries so we can share new approaches to deal with problems of the world.”

    Mr Sandeep Chakravorty, Joint Secretary (Western Europe), Ministry of External Affairs, Go I, said, “Besides a free trade agreement, mobility and an interim trade deal, we are working on a 10-year 360 degree roadmap to strengthen our relationship with the UK. Going forward, we see investments in India’s clean energy sector coming from the UK.”

    Presenting the report findings at the launch of the first ever BMI Tracker report, Pallavi Joshi Bakhru, Partner and India-UK Corridor Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP said, “Our research identified 572 UK companies in India with a combined turnover of around INR 3,390 billion, tax payment of around INR 173 billion and employing 416,121 people directly. This reflects the important contribution made by the UK companies to the Indian economy as a key ally in India’s growth story.” Grant Thornton Bharat and Grant Thornton UK have been working closely in the India-UK corridor for nearly three decades.

    Mr Sanjiv Bajaj, Vice President, CII and Chairman & MD, Bajaj Finserv Ltd remarked while launching the report, “We are very keen on increasing bilateral trade and investment as also make progress on the enhanced trade partnership between India and UK. With UK exiting European Union and signing the trade agreement it has made it inevitable for India and UK to cement its bilateral economic partnership further.

    An insightful fireside conversation was moderated by Anuj Chande Partner, Head of South Asia Group London at Grant Thornton, included Alexander Ellis, Gaitri Issar Kumar, and Lord Karan Bilimoria (Founder and Chairman, Cobra Beer and President of the Confederation of British Industry.

    The UK is currently the sixth largest investor in India, with a cumulative inflow (2000–2020) estimated at USD 29.5 billion, which represents about 6% of the total FDI into India. India has catapulted India’s rank in ease of doing business to 63 in 2019 from 77 in 2018. This has enhanced India’s attractiveness as an investment destination experts agree. .

    International Trade Secretary Liz Truss and Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (Credit: UK Government)

    Post Brexit, there is an increased interaction between India and the UK to strengthen the trade and economic partnership. Thus, this corridor has an important role to play in ensuring that businesses on both sides get the support they need to increase their commercial footprint, says the Grant Thornton narrative.

    Key highlights of the report

    572 UK companies in India were identified for the report, with a combined turnover of around INR 3,390 billion in 2019-20

    91 companies, with an average growth rate of 26%, feature in the 2021 list of fastest growing UK companies in India. The fastest growing UK company in India is Dyson Technologies followed by Aviva Life Insurance Company, both registering a growth rate of over 100%. Some of the other top ranking companies across sectors are Next Polymers Ltd (Industrial Services), FMC Technology India (Energy and Power) and Diageo Business Services India (Business Services).

    USD 26.7 billion: India’s trade in goods and services with the UK in 2020

    INR 173 billion: Total tax paid by the UK companies in 2019-20 416,121 people directly employed by the UK companies

  • India-UK ties set to touch a new highs

    India-UK ties set to touch a new highs

    The strengthening of partnership can be gauged from the developments on the investment front where FDI inflow from the UK to India for a particular year increased from $898 million in 2015-16 to $1,422 million in 2019-20….reports Asian Lite News

    A Grant Thornton Bharat-CII Britain Meets India report confirmed that India-UK ties will emerge stronger in the post-Covid world.

    India is set to be a priority choice for the UK, especially post Brexit, leading to an enhanced economic partnership.

    The strengthening of partnership can be gauged from the developments on the investment front where FDI inflow from the UK to India for a particular year increased from $898 million in 2015-16 to $1,422 million in 2019-20.

    The Report covered companies from the UK which continue to grow, invest and expand in India.

    “Our research identified 572 UK companies in India with a combined turnover of around Rs 3,390 billion, tax payment of around Rs 173 billion and employing 416,121 people directly. This reflects the important contribution made by the UK companies to the Indian economy as a key ally in India’s growth story,” said Pallavi Joshi Bakhru, Partner and India-UK Corridor Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP.

    Anuj Chande, head of the South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said : “I am delighted that with the launch of this report… we now have a quantitative measurement of the economic contribution of UK companies to India. Together with our India meets Britain tracker report which is in its 7th year, we have a comprehensive picture of the bilateral investment footprint.”

    The report highlights that Industrial and Business Services are top sectors being eyed by the UK companies. In terms of direction of investment, Maharashtra tops as the leading destination followed by Haryana, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.

    The list of ‘fastest growing UK companies in India’ includes Dyson Technology, Aviva Life Insurance, Diageo Business Services, RMD Kwikform and FMC Technologies, among others. The list of ‘top 20 UK companies by revenue’ includes Vedanta, Vodafone, Hindustan Unilever, United Spirits India, etc. Also, G4S Group, Vedanta Resources and HSBC Holdings feature in ‘top UK employers in India’.

    The report said that the strength of the India-UK trade and investment partnership has only increased in the post-Covid world through continued collaboration. India ensured that key supply chains of pharmaceutical products and surgical masks were maintained for the UK and other countries as the two sides collaborated relentlessly in vaccine research, design, and manufacturing.

    The Report was launched by India’s High Commissioner to UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, UK’s High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, Joint Secretary (Western Europe) in Ministry of External Affairs, Sandeep Chakravorty, CII Vice President Sanjiv Bajaj, Grant Thornton Bhara CEO Vishesh C. Chandiok, CEO, and CBI President, Lord Karan Bilimoria, in the presence of over 300 dignitaries, industry and government representatives from both countries.

    The report is based on review of 572 companies incorporated in India that are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly from the UK. Additional benchmarks were an annual turnover of more than Rs 500 million, y-o-y revenue growth of at least 10 per cent and a minimum two-year track record of filings with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in India.

    Also read:EU launches ‘mega plan’ against Covid-19

    Also read:UK to begin world’s first Covid human trials

  • UK to begin world’s first Covid human trials

    UK to begin world’s first Covid human trials

    UK is all set to begin world’s first Covid-19 human trials to study the effect of the coronavirus on a healthy body’s immune system, following approval from the country’s clinical trials ethics body.

    Healthy, young volunteers will be infected with coronavirus to test vaccines and treatments in the world’s first Covid-19 “human challenge” study, the BBC reported.

    The study is expected to begin in the next few weeks and recruit 90 people aged 18-30. They will be exposed to the virus in a safe and controlled environment while medics monitor their health.

    It will help doctors and scientists a better understanding of the various natures of Covid-19, which can boost the future development of vaccine and proper treatments.

    According to BBC, the human challenge studies have played a vital role in pushing the development of treatments for a number of diseases, including malaria, typhoid, cholera and flu.

    The trials will help scientists work out the smallest amount of coronavirus needed to cause infection, and how the body’s immune system reacts to it.

    The study is being delivered by a partnership between the UK government’s Vaccines Taskforce, Imperial College London, the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and the company hVIVO, which has pioneered viral human challenge models.

    Meanwhile, a team of researchers has detected another Covid-19 variant with a potentially worrying set of mutations with 32 cases found in the UK.

    UK

    The variant, known as B1525, is the subject of a report by researchers at the University of Edinburgh, who said it has been detected through genome sequencing in 10 countries including Denmark, the US and Australia, with 32 cases found in the UK so far.

    The earliest sequences were dated to December and cropped up in the UK and Nigeria, reports The Guardian.

    The team said the variant has similarities in its genome to the Kent variant, B117, and it contains a number of mutations that have worried researchers, including the E484K mutation to the spike protein — a protein found on the outside of the virus that plays an important role in helping the virus to enter cells.

    This E484K mutation is present in variants that emerged in South Africa and Brazil and is thought to help the virus evade neutralising antibodies, the report said.

    According to Simon Clarke from the University of Reading, while it was unclear what effect many of the mutations may have on the ability of Covid-19 to establish an infection, or on the severity of disease, the presence of the E484K mutation was known in the South Africa variant to confer a degree of resistance to some vaccines.

    “We don’t yet know how well this [new] variant will spread, but if it is successful it can be presumed that immunity from any vaccine or previous infection will be blunted,” he said.

    A medical worker prepares a dose of COVID-19 vaccine

    Clarke added that the new variant should be included in efforts to boost testing to pick up variants of concern.

    More than 15.3 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

    Another 12,718 people have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,071,185, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

    The country also reported another 738 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 118,933. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test.

    Also Read-Hotel Quarantining Introduced to Arrivals in UK

    Read More-UK minister for COP26 in India to cement climate action ties

  • Nehru Centre to host Pietersen, Swarup online chat shows soon

    Nehru Centre to host Pietersen, Swarup online chat shows soon

    Celebrated author, columnist, writer, Director at Nehru Centre in London and diplomat Amish Tripathi shares his dynamic outreach and future plans in conversation with Rahul Laud  

    Amish Tripathi is a very busy diplomat. Ranked among the top 100 celebrities in India by Forbes India and listed among the 50 most powerful Indians by India Today 2019, Amish shares that his   professional plate as an author, writer and as a diplomat is absolutely full.  While donning the hat as the Head of Nehru Centre in London as the representative of ICCR in UK and as a Diplomat, he is busy completing his fourth book in the Ramachandra Series to be published by end of 2021.

    With full enthusiasm he shares that there are upcoming online events from Nehru Centre London that will grab international attention. The recent conversation with the Narayan Murthy family on the occasion of the launch of second book of Gopi Series by Sudha Murthy attracted a wide global audience.

    The online event plan includes a chat with Kevin Peter Pietersen MBE – a cricket commentator and former England Captain and international player. Kevin is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler played in all three formats for England between 2005 and 2014. With England playing against India in a Test match at Old Trafford this year in summer this conversation will draw huge cricket loving audience.

    Kevin Pietersen MBE

    Literary giant, Foreign Service high profile diplomat, Vikas Swarup who is the current Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs will also interact online informs Amish.  Swarup is also the author of three novels, Q&A, which was adapted as the multiple Oscar-winning film Slum dog Millionaire, Six Suspects and The Accidental Apprentice. His books have been translated into more than forty international languages. Londoners would recollect he penned his first novel, Q&A, in two months, when he was posted in London.

    Amish points out that as India celebrates 75th anniversary of its Independence plans are being collectively drawn up by various institutions in India and in the UK. Nehru Centre, ICCR, British High Commission offices, British Council and Foreign and Commonwealth office will collectively finalise activity to celebrate this grand occasion.

    Undeterred by the global pandemic, Amish says ‘’there was no point to cry.’’ His arrival coincided with the Corona crisis as a result physical activity plans were shelved. But ‘’we looked at this crisis as an opportunity and it appears it is like a blessing in disguise,’’ he says.

    Pondering over his strategy and brief, he says, ‘’it was imminent for us to engage with pan UK audience. Nehru Centre has a huge heritage story thus we decided to encash on this strength and design improvements. ‘’ The image and the perception that Nehru Centre catered only to the elderly, is London centric and engages exclusively with the Indian diaspora had to break. ‘’We were perceived as we work in a ghetto required change and the pandemic helped us in a way.’’ Activities became online as a result we achieved our objective to reach out to an audience both Indian and international far and wide in the UK. ‘’Amish elaborates that it is important that performing arts is significantly important but ‘’we realised the need to engage with different audience in the thought space and thought leaders as well. Cultural, intellectual, thought leadership are key objectives which the online events helped us meet.’’  

    Indian diplomat Vikas Swarup

     With the line-up of activities in the last year and plans for this year it is evident that Nehru Centre aggressively tapped the audience and engaged with non-Indian audience too. ‘’High Commissioner in the UK Gayatri Kumar Issar allowed us to take responsibility of all social media handles of the consulates in the UK that enabled us to have huge impact and outreach, he points out.

    Amish strongly believes that after Los Angeles, Washington , San Francisco , and New york the global cultural and intellectual space is strongly dominated  by London thus Nehru Centre has a very key role to play. With these thoughts from its Director, it’s a no brainer that Nehru Centre in the UK will bring to its audience poignant discussions and events that will lead to a global impact.        

  • Manchester Gurdwara offers support to fight pandemic

    Manchester Gurdwara offers support to fight pandemic

    The Sikh community in Manchester is setting standards for others to follow… A special news report by Asian Lite News, the best newspaper for Asian news in Britain.

    Sri Guru Singh Sabha (Central) Gurdwara in Manchester is providing support activities through collaboration with various regional organisations and charities to help community fight the pandemic.

    These activities have ranged from: serving hot vegetarian meals through their kitchen; provision of protective gear through their volunteers; and offering counselling to support the physical and mental wellbeing of the wider community. This has only been possible due to the passion of the volunteers, ongoing community financial support, and funding from the National Lottery Community Fund and the Forever Manchester Community Support Fund.

    “To help combat this tough time and ensure that the meals reach the most vulnerable, the Gurudwara has been working with local charity ‘Feed My City’. In addition to providing essential food items, it supports the work of volunteers to prepare and pack meals under strict Government guidelines,” according to a press release.

    Also Read – Indian Influencers List in Manchester receives overwhelming response

    The volunteers took efforts by complying with social distancing, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and following health and safety measures within the kitchen. While food is being prepared, another set of volunteers take meal orders on the telephone and a separate group deliver the meals throughout the day to local hostels, homeless shelters, other charities, and large families.

    In addition to the meals, the Gurudwara is also providing dry groceries to the needy who are unable to drive to their local grocery stores, self-isolating and or have restricted resources. The Gurudwara has also been able to provide it’s community with PPE, hand sanitising stations and a one way worship system to allow it to keep functional and safe.

    The Gurudwara stated that “The practice of feeding people equally regardless of their background is one of the founding principles of Sikhism. It is our aim that no one should go hungry in these difficult times’. One of the volunteers also stated that ‘The service is available seven days a week because there are no food holidays – we are just a phone call away’.

  • Boris plans ‘cautious but irreversible’ move

    Boris plans ‘cautious but irreversible’ move

    The road-map exiting the lockdown is expected to include the earliest possible dates for reopening schools and different sectors of the economy, according to Johnson….reports Asian Lite News

    British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that his government will be “very prudent” in easing coronavirus restrictions to ensure a “cautious but irreversible” progress.

    “We’ve got to be very prudent and what we want to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible,” Johnson said about his plan for easing the current lockdown, which is expected to be announced on February 22, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

    “I think that’s what the public and people up and down the country will want to see,” he told reporters.

    Johnson said that “too many people are dying” due to the pandemic and while rates of infections are “coming down” they remain “comparatively high”.

    The road-map exiting the lockdown is expected to include the earliest possible dates for reopening schools and different sectors of the economy, according to Johnson.

    “If we possibly can, we’ll be setting out dates,” Johnson said. “The dates that we will be setting out will be the dates by which we hope we can do something at the earliest, if you see what I mean — so it’s the target date by which we hope to do something at the earliest.”

    “If, because of the rate of infection, we have to push something off a little bit to the right — delay it for a little bit — we won’t hesitate to do that,” he added.

    Meanwhile, the first travellers required to stay at quarantine hotels in England have begun arriving at London’s Heathrow Airport.

    From Monday, all British and Irish citizens and British residents who arrive in England after being on the “red list” of more than 30 high-risk countries now have to self-isolate in hotels. The “red list” countries include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

    The new measures, designed to prevent coronavirus variants from entering the country, apply to arrivals who have been in one of those countries in the past 10 days.

    Another 10,972 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 4,038,078, according to official figures released Sunday.

    Meanwhile, more than 15 million people of the most vulnerable groups in Britain have received a first dose of a coronavirus jab, according to the latest official figures.

    England is currently under the third national lockdown since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

    To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.

    Also read:New coronavirus variant found in Iraq

  • Hotel Quarantining Introduced to Arrivals in UK

    Hotel Quarantining Introduced to Arrivals in UK

    All British and Irish citizens and UK residents who arrive in England after being in a high-risk Covid country now have to quarantine in hotels, officials said.

    The “red list” of 33 countries includes Portugal, Brazil and South Africa. The new regulations, which aim to stop Covid-19 variants entering the country, apply to arrivals who have been in one of those places in the past 10 days, the BBC reported on Monday.

    They will have to pre-book and pay 1,750 pounds to spend 10 days quarantining in the government-sanctioned hotels.

    That covers the cost of the hotel, transport and testing.

    Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the emergence of new variants meant the government “must go further” with its travel restrictions.

    The government says it has struck deals with 16 hotels so far, providing 4,963 rooms for the new quarantine system, with a further 58,000 rooms currently on standby.

    “The rules coming into force today will bolster the quarantine system and provide another layer of security against new variants at the border,” Hancock said.

    The health secretary added that the measures were “important to protect our vaccination programme”.

    On Sunday, the government announced that more than 15 million people in the UK had received their first coronavirus jab, in what the prime minister described as a “significant milestone”.

    Meanwhile, all travellers arriving into Scotland from abroad by air – rather than just those from the 33 “high risk” countries – now have to go into quarantine hotels.

    People travelling from red list countries to Wales and Northern Ireland will be required to book and pay for quarantine in England, as neither destination has any direct international flights.

    Any passenger required to stay in a quarantine hotel in England needs to reserve a room online in advance using a government portal.

    The additional rate for one extra adult or a child aged over 12 is 650 pounds, and for a child aged five to 12 it is 325 pounds.

    Those who fail to quarantine in such hotels face fines of 5,000 to 10,000 pounds, while anyone who lies on their passenger locator form about having been in a country on the red list faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

    A new testing regime for all travellers arriving in England has also started, with two tests required during the quarantine process.

    They will be required to get a test on days two and eight of their 10-day quarantine period, whether they are isolating at home or in a hotel. The tests, conducted by NHS Test and Trace, will cost travellers 210 pounds.

    Those who do not take the tests could face a 2,000 pounds fine.

    On Sunday the government said another 258 people had died in the UK within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19, bringing the total to 117,166. There were another 10,972 confirmed cases.