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ChatGPT lists Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Putin as ‘controversial’ public figure

News Desk — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 05:12:10 +0000

OpenAI powered chatbot, ChatGPT has listed Twitter CEO Elon Musk, Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US President, Donald Trump, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and some others as controversial figures.

ChatGPT lists Trump, Elon Musk as controversial and worthy of special treatment, Biden and Bezos as not. I've got more examples. @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/92bNDQo4qY

— Isaac (@IsaacLatterell) February 19, 2023

Tesla CEO, Elon Musk has always been n the headlines since he sealed the $44 billion twitter deal last October and since has been listed as a “controversial” figure by ChatGPT. Along with Musk, Russian President, Putin is in news for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Boris Johnson for the financial crisis that hit Britain in his tenure.

The list of these controversial people was shared by businessman Isaac Latterell on his official twitter handle. This list also consists of a separate section for people who need to be treated specially by ChatGPT.

Apart from the above mentioned ‘controversial’ figures, there’s a list of non-controversial figures like the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Joe Biden.

According to Latterell, the categorization of these public figure is on the basis of the views of media outlets, not any ChatGPT programming.

For clarification, Isaac has created the column headers, but he didn’t prompt how to define them, as can be seen in one of the screenshots, the businessman said in a tweet.

“This isn’t true for individual words or topics. It WILL give you its operative definition for controversial topics and words, and it WILL tell you that it is not allowed to change them,” he added.

2022 World Leaders that quit from Sri Lanka’s notorious President to UK’s partying PM

News Desk — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 10:34:26 +0000

2022 has a been a very active year for national as well as world politics. Major world leaders have quit from top offices and the government in a lot of countries. As well as states which have lost their economic and political stability. With the recent resignation of Italian PM Mario Draghi, some of the other world leaders who simply quit are the following:.

Mario Draghi: Mario Draghi said that he would tender his resignation as the Italian prime minister on Thursday, after a party in his ruling coalition did not participate in a confidence vote. “I will tender my resignation to the president of the republic this evening. The national unity coalition that backed this government no longer exists”. He told the cabinet, according to a statement released by his office. In response to this, the Italian President Sergio Mattarella refused to accept the resignation and invited Draghi to appear before parliament to make a statement.

Boris Johnson: Boris Johnson finally stepped down from his position as the Prime Minister of UK. This too came after after a long procession of Ministers and MPs resigned from their jobs. The resignations made it difficult if not impossible for him to run the government. He did attempt to hold on to his position for a while. But as the departures mounted it became clear he would have to leave if the government was to get back on its feet. Some of the issues that fueled the resignation could be the Partygate scandal, Chris Pincher affair and the Owen Patterson row.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa: Sri Lanka is currently in the grip of economic chaos as it faces an acute shortage of food, fuel and other basic supplies. Mr Rajapaksa quit after fleeing to Singapore amid mass protests over his mismanagement of the economy. With this resignation, Sri Lankans have gotten out of the grip of the rule of a family. Which wielded power for over 20 years. Currently, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken up the position of acting president. Thus joining the club of World Leaders. And has paved the way for the country to begin the process of electing a new president.

Aksar Mamin: The former Prime Minister of Kazakhstan resigned along with his cabinet on January 6, 2022 admist protests against a sharp rise in fuel prices. Most cars in Kazakhstan use LPG as their fuel because of its low price. The latest move however resulted in doubling the prices of the gas leading to the outbreak of protests. Moreover, first in the oil-rich Mangystau province on the west of the country. But very quickly spreading to the largest city and former capital of the country, Almaty and other cities and provinces. Owing to the unrest, Mamin and his cabinet put in their papers. And continued to remain in office till alternative arrangements were made.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson officially resigns

Akash Dhanurkar — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 11:40:56 +0000

Boris Johnson, who recently faced uproar over the party gate scandal, has officially resigned as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom comprises of four countries. Which are England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Boris Johnson was the former incumbent prime minister to these.

Earlier, 50 Ministers resigned from his Cabinet leaving his government. Moreover, leaving him dangling against a massive uproar that demanded his resignation at the earliest. Eight ministers, including two secretaries of state, have resigned in the past couple of hours.

UK PM Boris Johnson has been facing this brunt since the party gate scandal broke out. And created a massive debate in the UK Parliament. Johnson came to power in 2019, gathering support from all parts of the UK that lacked support for the Conservative Party.

Earlier Rishi Sunak, who was the Chancellor of the Exchequer resigned. However, with Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. They both each submitted letters of resignation to the then incumbent prime minister. Specifically, withdrawing support and confidence from his government due to differences in both agenda and opinions.

Nadhim Zahawi, an MP for Stratford, had tweeted urging UK PM Boris Johnson to resign. “Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse. For you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now.”

Prime Minister: this is not sustainable and it will only get worse: for you, for the Conservative Party and most importantly of all the country. You must do the right thing and go now. pic.twitter.com/F2iKT1PhvC

— Nadhim Zahawi (@nadhimzahawi) July 7, 2022

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak resigns with Health Secretary Sajid Javid

News Desk — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 19:37:05 +0000

UK Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and Health Secretary Sajid Javid resigned on Tuesday, which has caused Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to go into crisis.

Rishi Sunak quoted in his resignation letter, “To leave ministerial office is a serious matter at any time. For me to step down as Chancellor. While the world is suffering the economic consequences of the pandemic. The war in Ukraine and other serious challenges is a decision that I have not taken lightly. The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously. I recognize this may be my last ministerial job. But I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning.”

Rishi Sunak resigns from top job

Sajid Javid said he had lost confidence in Johnson’s ability to govern in the national interest after a series of scandals, saying he could “no longer continue in good conscience”. He said that many lawmakers and the public had lost confidence in Johnson’s ability to govern in the national interest.

“I regret to say, however, that it is clear to me that this situation will not change under your leadership – and you have therefore lost my confidence too,” Mr Javid said in a letter to Mr Johnson.

This comes as Johnson tried to apologise for the scandal involving a sexual misconduct allegation against one of his MP-minister, Chris Pincher.

Sunak also came under the lens earlier in the year. After it was reported that his wife Akshata Murthy held 0.9 per cent shares in the Russian software giant, Infosys. This was reported after the decision of the government to “fully support” UK firms that pull out of Russia voluntarily. In response to these allegations, Sunak had denied any connection with the multinational firm. He said he had “nothing to do” with Infosys, in which his wife Akshata Murthy held shares. He has also urged UK firms to pull out of Russia to inflict “economic pain” on President Vladimir Putin.

Rishi Sunak was expected to be the next Prime Minister of UK considering he was tremendously popular in the House of Commons.

“Ukraine will win,” says UK PM Boris Johnson as he announces £300 mn military aid

Keertiman Upadhyay — Tue, 03 May 2022 13:27:27 +0000

On Tuesday, May 3, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson announced a £300 million military aid to Ukraine. “I have one message for you today: Ukraine will win, Ukraine will be free,” said the PM as he addressed the Ukrainian Parliament through video conferencing.

PM Johnson hailed the Ukrainians for their fight against the Russian invasion. He further assured of supply of military & humanitarian aid to Ukraine. “We will carry on supplying Ukraine… with weapons, funding and humanitarian aid, until we have achieved our long-term goal, which must be so to fortify Ukraine that no-one will ever dare to attack you again,” said Johnson to Verkhovna Rada.

UK’s military aid includes electronic warfare weapons & counter-battery radar system. The UK has been a constant support of Ukraine, PM Boris Johnson had also visited Kyiv amid the ongoing Russian invasion.

Meanwhile, the Russia-Ukraine war has entered its 69th day. The situation is worsening day by day, today Kremlin has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced sanctions against Western countries. Europe is also struggling to make decisions on the import of Russian fossil fuels as it can create an energy crisis. There are no signs visible of the war ending any time soon.

British Prime Minister to visit India soon over the Free Trade Agreement policy

Mymun Malik — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 05:45:32 +0000

With the ongoing India-UK Free Trade Agreement sessions, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to visit India by the end of March. The high-level meeting will focus on increasing and improvising India-UK bilateral ties.

Most probably the scheduled date is on April 22nd; his past visits to India had to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

As per the official statement released by the British Prime Minister’s office, “Last month Johnson and Indian Prime Minister Modi had spoken over a phone and decided to meet in person. And the British leadership always looked at India as an important ally, and we hope to increase and strengthen this bond by continuing our business, trade, and security. We eagerly await to meet in person to assure this bilateral tie strengthens over the coming decades.”

As per PTI, Boris Johnson’s office confirmed that he was looking forward to this meeting in India with Narendra Modi. Last year in November, Modi and Johnson met during the Climate Summit COP 26 in Glasgow. Their bilateral discussions focussed majorly on the India-UK climate partnership and a plan of action for the same to be reviewed in 2030 was signed over a virtual meeting in the month of May 2021

The climate partnership between the two countries aims to increase bilateral trade by 2030 and is part of an Indo-Pacific foreign policy plan.

Borish Johnson recently this year in January, during the launch of the Free Trade Agreement said, “We keep Indian ties close to our heart as India is one of the fastest-growing economies and it massively benefits the business scenario in the UK in terms of hiring top executives, skilled labour, and consumers. The UK without a doubt has superb businesses and absolute expertise from financial services to renewable technology to world-famous Scotch whisky distilleries. We wish to bank on the many opportunities presented by the growing economies of the Indo-Pacific zone to strengthen our bonds on international platforms and make the benefits reach home.”

The Indo-UK Free Trade Agreement’s 3rd round of discussions will be hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in India later this month, during the British Prime Minister’s visit.

G7 planning to halt Russian gold transactions: White House

Himanshu Mishra — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 15:22:32 +0000

The G7 group of developed economies and the European Union approved to shut off transactions comprising the Russian central bank’s gold funds to hamper any Moscow bid to circumvent Western sanctions, the White House announced on Thursday.

The allies will function together “to blunt Russia’s potential to fund… (President Vladimir) Putin’s war, comprising by bringing clear that any transaction affecting gold… is covered by previous sanctions,” the statement announced.

Group of Seven leaders have confirmed they are prohibiting the Russian Central Bank’s use of gold in transactions, while the US declared a new round of sanctions targeting more than 400 elites and members of the Russian State Duma.

Earlier, sanctions against Russian elites, the country’s Central Bank and President Vladimir Putin did not affect Russia’s gold stockpile, which Putin has been collecting for several years. Russia holds approximately $130 billion in gold reserves, and the Bank of Russia declared Feb 28 that it would continue the purchase of gold on the domestic important metals market.

White House officials announced that this move will further stop Russia’s potential to use its international stocks to prop up Russia’s economy and fund its battle against Ukraine.

However, the Biden administration declared more sanctions targeting 48 state-owned defence firms, 328 members of the Duma, Russia’s lower parliament, and dozens of Russian elites. The Duma as an element was also called in the new sanctions.

World must end addiction to Russian oil and gas: UK PM Boris Johnson

Himanshu Mishra — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 05:08:52 +0000

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a mission to construct an international coalition against Russia and get off reliance on its oil and gas exports in revolt against the war with Ukraine, as he confirmed a visit to the Gulf region on Wednesday.

Johnson is going to meet with leaders in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh for conversations on energy, regional security and humanitarian assistance as part of what Downing Street described as the UK’s steps to galvanize global action on the problem in Ukraine.

The leaders are anticipated to talk about efforts to enhance energy security and decrease volatility in global energy and food prices in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

“The violent and unprovoked attack President Putin has declared on Ukraine will have far-reaching outcomes for the world, well beyond Europe’s borders,” Johnson told ahead of his visit.

“The UK is constructing an international coalition to deal with the new truth we face. The world must wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons and starve Putin’s dependence on oil and gas. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key international partners in that action. We will operate with them to ensure regional security, support the humanitarian relief effort and establish global energy markets for the longer term,” he told.

Johnson will have talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before reaching Saudi Arabia to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Johnson endorsed his trip to the country, announcing his mission is to build “the strongest, widest possible coalition” to ensure that Putin does not succeed.

Last week, the UK government declared plans to phase out imports of Russian oil commodities by the end of 2022 and a probable ban on natural gas from the country. Western action against Russia has sent oil prices shooting up amid supply tensions.

Russia prohibits citizens from transferring money abroad

Himanshu Mishra — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 17:28:31 +0000

Vladimir Putin has announced a ban on foreign exchange loans and transfers by Russian residents to the outside of the nation, the Kremlin told on Monday, in response to economic sanctions put on Moscow by the West.

The Russian president also approved into law a rule for exporting firms to sell 80 per cent of their foreign trade earnings made since 1 January. Earlier today, the U.S. Treasury has prohibited all transactions with the Central Bank of Russia and put sanctions on a key Russian sovereign income reserve.

American entities and citizens are restricted from committing transactions with the Central Bank of Russia, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation, the Treasury’s OFAC announced on Monday.

Moreover, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday announced that he would intend to cut Russia off from the U.K.’s financial markets as he declared a new set of sanctions in reaction to President Vladimir Putin’s attack on Ukraine.

The sanctions include freezing the assets of all crucial Russian banks, including VTB Bank, the nation’s second-biggest bank, Johnson announced. Britain also schedules to bar Russian firms and the Russian government from lifting money on U.K. markets.

However, not only this last week, on Thursday, Moscow Exchange has suspended trading on all of its markets until further notice.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a catastrophe for our continent: Boris Johnson

Vaishali Pandey — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 13:25:02 +0000

In a TV address to his nation, Boris Johnson stated that a “massive package of sanctions” will be imposed on Russia with the help of allies. They will be aimed to “hobble Russia’s economy.”

According to the British Prime Minister, with his invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has “chosen a path of bloodshed and destruction.” He also stated that the UK and its allies will respond “decisively” against this.

WATCH: My address to the nation on the situation in Ukraine. https://t.co/bLDpcnNaDy

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

This comes after Ukraine’s president invoked martial law in the country. Ukraine also broke diplomatic ties with Russia. Russia’s military stated it had targeted Ukrainian air bases and other military installations but not civilians.

Boris Johnson, shortly before 10 a.m., tweeted that the invasion of Ukraine is a “catastrophe for our continent.” He will speak with fellow G7 leaders and ask for an “urgent meeting” of NATO members as quickly as possible.

This is a catastrophe for our continent.

I will make an address to the nation this morning on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I will also speak to fellow G7 leaders and I am calling for an urgent meeting of all NATO leaders as soon as possible.

— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 24, 2022

On the other side, Putin slammed the US and its allies for rejecting Russia’s demand that they keep Ukraine out of NATO and provide security assurances to Moscow. He stated that the Russian military action seeks to “demilitarise” Ukraine, adding that all Ukrainian personnel who lay down their guns would be able to leave the battle zone safely.

Shortly after Putin’s speech, explosions were heard in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, and explosions were also reported in the cities of Odesa and Kharkiv.

UK slams restrictions on five Russian banks and wealthy individuals

Himanshu Mishra — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 14:51:48 +0000

Britain on Tuesday imposed sanctions on five Russian banks and three billionaires, however, Prime Minister Boris Johnson named it “the first barrage” of regulation in reply to Russia’s steps in Ukraine.

Talking at the UK parliament hours after Russia appointed troops into two Moscow-backed Ukrainian rebel regions, Johnson explained it as “a renewed invasion” of its western neighbour and “pretext for a full-scale offensive”.

“The UK and our allies will begin to slap the sanctions on Russia that we have already assembled… to approved Russian individuals and commodities of strategic importance to the Kremlin,” he informed MPs.

The British leader announced further sanctions were “a willingness to be deployed” if the Kremlin showed further aggression in what he predicted would be “a protracted crisis”.

The five banks slammed are — Rossiya, IS Bank, General Bank, Promsvyazbank and the Black Sea Bank — and three people ruled will see any UK assets frozen. The individuals troubled — Gennady Timchenko, Boris Rotenberg and Igor Rotenberg — will be restricted from travelling to Britain and all UK individuals and entities will be restricted from dealing with them and the lenders.

“We cannot tell what will occur in the days ahead,” Johnson added in the House of Commons, in the cross-party condemnation of Moscow’s actions.

“But… we should steel ourselves for a protracted crisis.” The sanctions declaration came after Johnson chaired an early morning committee with security chiefs, after which he promised to hit Russia “very hard”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday recognised the freedom of the rebel-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine and advised the defence ministry to conclude “the function of peacekeeping” in the separatist-held regions.

Britain’s relations with the Kremlin have been frosty since the poisoning death of an old Russian spy in London in 2006, and the attempted murder of another double agency in the southwestern town of Salisbury in 2018. Johnson’s spokesman announced earlier Tuesday that Russia’s ambassador to London had been called in for conversations on Ukraine by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Britain warns of possible invasion by Russia into Ukraine this week

Malvika Choudhary — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:37:16 +0000

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson today expressed that it is rather obvious that Russia is planning an invasion of Ukraine. The troops are clustering on the Ukrainian border and “all sorts of other signs that show that there are serious preparations” going on, he said in his visit to Scotland.

There is no indication yet that Russia will de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine and there is a “grave possibility” that Moscow could intrude this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman said on Monday.

“I think it is very important that we have a conversation. But what we can’t do is trade away the sovereign rights of the Ukrainian people to aspire to NATO membership… you can’t bargain that away – it is for the Ukrainian people,” Johnson said.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict has arrived at an unhinged point with European stability and the fate of East-West relations are in jeopardy. Russia has deployed over 100,000 troops near the Ukraine border. US President Joe Biden has already cautioned that the US and its allies would react decisively and impose swift and excruciating consequences if Russia invades Ukraine. The invasion could begin with an aerial bombing that would make departures difficult and imperil civilians, the White House said on Friday.

“The sovereign right of the Ukrainian people to join NATO cannot be traded away”, Boris Johnson said on Monday, adding he would be conversing with U.S. President Joe Biden “very soon” to assist the diplomatic process.

Meanwhile, Russia said it has settled to “optimise” its prudent staff numbers in Ukraine.

The official voiced that U.S. conversations with Russia were not yielding a lot but the discussion with President Vladimir Putin was still unobstructed through the leaders of Germany and France.

Defense Ministry of UK prepared new scenarios of constraining Russia

United News of India (UNI) — Sat, 29 Jan 2022 07:01:04 +0000

The UK Defense Ministry has prepared new scenarios of constraining Russia, including sending more NATO troops to Eastern Europe, which will be considered by Prime Minister Boris Johnson later this week, a source told Sputnik. “These significant interventions [new sanctions against Russia] come after the Prime Minister asked defence and security chiefs to consider further defensive military options in Europe during a high-level intelligence briefing on the situation last week,” the source said. “In a meeting at the Ministry of Defence, top military brass set out a range of options to mitigate against growing Russian aggression in the region, including fresh deployments and bolstering of NATO’s defences. The Prime Minister is considering those options this weekend,” the source added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Business Upturn staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

British PM Boris Johnson’s party loses key seat

United News of India (UNI) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 12:04:03 +0000

London, Dec 17 (UNI) The Conservatives have lost the North Shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years to the Liberal Democrats in a by-election blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Winner Helen Morgan overturned a Tory majority of almost 23,000, declaring that the “party is over” for the Prime Minister.

The result follows a torrid week for Johnson, who has faced criticism over Downing Street parties and a rebellion by his own MPs over Covid-19 measures, BBC reported.

Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the Prime Minister was on “last orders”. He said the by-election “has to be seen as a referendum on the Prime Minister’s performance”.

Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said: “I know that the voters of North Shropshire are fed up and they wanted to give us a kicking… We’ve heard that message loud and clear.”

The by-election followed the resignation of Owen Paterson, the MP for North Shropshire since 1997 who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying.

In her victory speech, Morgan said: “The people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, ‘Boris Johnson, the party is over.’

“Your government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. It will be scrutinised, it will be challenged and it can and will be defeated.”

UNI MR ING

Charlotte Johnson Wahl, a famous painter and the mother of British PM Boris Johnson died at the age of 79

News Desk — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 06:31:05 +0000

On Monday, Charlotte Johnson Wahl, an expert painter and the mother of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, has died at the age of 79, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Johnson Wahl passed away “abruptly and peacefully” at a London hospital, the newspaper stated, bringing up an announcement from the own circle of relatives.

Downing Street did now no longer reply to a request for comment. Representatives of the own circle of relatives couldn’t be right away reached. Johnson had defined his mother as the “advanced authority” withinside the own circle of relatives during the Conservative Party’s annual convention in 2019.

“I am going to cite that perfect authority in my family -my mother, and by the way, for eager students of the divisions in my family on subjects of the EU, I need you to realize that I actually have stored the ace up my sleeve – my mother voted to leave,” Johnson stated then.

According to the Telegraph, Johnson Wahl was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disorder at the age of 40. “I try and paint each day if I probably can, even though I ought to visit the hospital a lot. I nonetheless manipulate to paint, though my arm will suddenly make a motion that’s absolutely accidental, and that almost brings me to tears,” she informed the newspaper in an interview in 2008.

The 9/11 attack, failed to divide the idea of freedom and democracy: British PM Boris Johnson

News Desk — Sat, 11 Sep 2021 06:51:26 +0000

To mark the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, al Qaeda attacks, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated in a video message that the attack in the United States did not divide those who believe in freedom and democracy.

The attack killed nearly 3,000 people, together with more than 2,600 on the World Trade Center in New York, after hijackers seized control of aeroplanes and used them to attack the World Trade Center’s twin towers and the Pentagon just outside Washington.

Around 77 British nationals were among the dead, “While the terrorists imposed their burden of grief and suffering, and whilst the chance persists today, we will now say with the regard of 20 years that they did not shake our perception of freedom and democracy,” Johnson stated withinside the video message.

“They were unable to tear our nations apart, or cause us to led down our values, or to stay in everlasting fear.” The message will be played at an occasion held in London’s Olympic Park, wherein there’s a memorial sculpture created from metallic salvaged from the collapsed World Trade Center towers.

Al Qaeda head Osama bin Laden plotted the Sep 11 attacks from inside Afghanistan. That sparked a U.S-led invasion that rapidly toppled the Taliban authorities there in 2001, however Western forces remained in the United States for another decade.

Johnson connected the Sep 11 anniversary with the latest go back of Taliban rule in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of American, British, and other NATO forces. “Recent occasions in Afghanistan most effectively strengthen our dedication to remember those who have been taken from us, cherish the survivors and people who nevertheless grieve, and hold fast to our perception in liberty and democracy, as a way to usually be successful over each foe,” he stated.

UK PM Boris Johnson, FM Rishi Sunak to self isolate after Health Minister tests positive for COVID-19

Diya S. — Sun, 18 Jul 2021 11:24:43 +0000

The United Kingdom’s (UK) Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, along with Finance Minister Rishi Sunak will be isolating themselves while working only from their offices after the nation’s newly-appointed Health Minister Sajid Javid tested positive for the coronavirus.

On July 18, a statement released from British PM’s Downing Street office said, “The Prime Minister and Chancellor have been contracted by NHS Test and Trace as contacts of someone who has tested positive for COVID.”

Moreover, as reported by Sky News, a spokesperson has stated that Johnson was at Chequers when contacted by Test and Trace and will remain there to isolate. The PM will not be participating in the pilot but will continue to hold meetings with ministers remotely.

“The Chancellor has also been contacted and will also isolate as required and will not be taking part in the pilot”, the spokesperson added. Sunak informed the same on Twitter.

Whilst the test and trace pilot is fairly restrictive, allowing only essential government business, I recognise that even the sense that the rules aren’t the same for everyone is wrong.

To that end I’ll be self isolating as normal and not taking part in the pilot.

— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) July 18, 2021

On July 17, according to reports, the Health Secretary Sajid Javid revealed that he had positive for COVID-19 test and was self-isolating, just a day after he had met with Johnson in Downing Street.

The UK is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases mainly due to highly contagious Delta variant, which was first identified in India. However, the nation is set to remove almost all coronavirus-related curbs from Monday.

NHS (National Health Service) Test and Trace is England’s official app in helping to contain the spread of COVID-19.

“Boycott Olympics, put diplomatic pressure”: UK lawmakers want action against China over Uighurs

Bhomik Mathur — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 12:39:43 +0000

Calling China’s actions In Xinjiang “an international crisis of profound urgency”, a group of British lawmakers has urged the UK’s Boris Johnson led government to take stricter action against China for its alleged human rights violations against the Uighur Muslims. The call was made in a report prepared by the UK Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. The report asked for strict action to be taken against China through a boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and a ban on the cotton trade with Xinjiang.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Tom Tugendhat of the Conservative party conducted several month-long inquiries and concluded in the report that any civilised government could not ignore the “atrocities” being conducted against Uighur Muslims in China’s Xinjiang province.

Our report on #Xinjiang detention camps recommends that the UK:

– explores a ban on the import of cotton products made in Xinjiang
– doesn't participate in the opening or closing ceremonies of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics
– creates an asylum fast track for Uyghurs pic.twitter.com/ZL6nsHNYF5

— Foreign Affairs Committee (@CommonsForeign) July 8, 2021

Many human rights organizations have alleged that China has detained over a million Uighurs in ‘concentration camps’ and that the authorities are using forced labour and conducting forced sterilization of women in the region. The allegations have been denied by the Chinese government which calls its actions in Xinjiang steps against ‘extremism’.

The committee asked the government to use diplomatic measures to force China to allow the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to enter Xinjiang. It also wants a partial boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing, with ministers and tourists staying away from the event and British companies not sponsoring the Olympics. However, UK PM Boris Johnson indicated on Wednesday that he was opposed to sporting boycotts.

The lawmakers have demanded that the UK works with Western allies to provide a quick asylum process for the victims of Chinese atrocities. The report has also called for a ban on the import of cotton products from Xinjiang, which is said to be produced using forced labour.

Harsh actions have already been taken against Xinjiang products in the United States with the US government last week placing restrictions on imports from 5 Chinese companies alleged to be using forced labour.

UK’s Education Secretary Gavin Williamson announces the end of isolation bubbles in schools

Diya S. — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:53:31 +0000

Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary in the government of United Kingdom has announced the end of isolation bubbles in schools.

Since the government had been planning to sweep away the current system for containing coronavirus outbreaks within schools, colleges as well as nurseries, more than 640,000 children did not attend school due to COVID-19 last week.

As stated by Williamson to the parliament, from July 19 grouping pupils into protective bubbles within schools, colleges and nurses in England would cease to exist along with other preventive measures and requirements for self-isolation for contracts to end in the month of August.

On July 5, Health Secretary Sajid Javid had confirmed that school bubbles were set to end. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also supported the scrapping of school bubbles as it would “greatly reduce the impact” on schools of CoVID-19 outbreaks. He continued, “Obviously, the way forward is with testing rather than by sending the bubbles home.”

Twice-weekly lateral flow tests of pupils at the beginning of the new school year is still necessary for secondary schools. However, the Education Secretary assured that the practice would be reviewed before September ends.

Furthermore, headteachers are no longer required to conduct contact tracings within schools with responsibility being given to NHS Test and Trace, which is government-funded service in the country built to help track and prevent the spread of COVID-19 disease.

From 16th August, individuals under the age of 18 years will no longer need to self isolate if they have been traced by NHS Test and Trace.

Most of England’s COVID rules to get scrapped by Boris Johnson from 19th July

Vaibhav Agrawal — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 05:19:22 +0000

Despite mentioning that new coronavirus cases could soar to around 50,000 a day before masks and social distancing are ditched, making England the most unrestricted society in Europe, Boris Johnson shall revoke hundreds of COVID-19 regulations from 19th July, as per a report released to buy The Guardian.

Although the Prime Minister has announced to revoke the regulations, he has warned the public against going de-mob happy by giving a sign that the government might reimpose restrictions by this autumn.

During a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson mentioned that they should be honest with themselves and when shall they be able to return to normal if they cannot reopen the society in the upcoming few weeks.

In much of the rest of the world where restrictions are remained intact to combat infections, the planned changes, which were announced on Monday by Boris, are set to make England an outlier. Prompting a backlash from bereaved families along with the regional mayors on the dropping of the legal requirement for masks, The so-called big Bang reopening was termed as reckless by Labour.

According to Downing Street, under the Equality Act, legal advice on the responsibilities would be required by the businesses that chose to enforce mask-wearing. Along with maintaining restrictions on International travel and mandatory social distancing at airports and other ports, the only remaining regulation with regards to COVID-19 shall be a requirement to isolate after testing positive for the disease.

UK announced Graduate Student Visa for International students

Aayushi Singh — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:22:56 +0000

On Thursday, UK opened post study work visa for international students. UK Home Secretary, Priti Patel, announced the graduate route visa.

The applications have been opened from this week, and many international students including Indians would stand to benefit from the visa.

Students could apply to stay in the UK for work for at least two years under the Graduate Route Visa. And in order to avail the benefits of the visa, the student must have obtained a degree from a recognised UK university.

Talented students from India and across the globe could now have the opportunity to kick start their careers in the UK at the highest levels of business, technology, arts and sciences, under the UK Government’s point-based immigration system, said Priti Patel.

UK Home Secretary added that once the students have received their world-leading qualification from one of their educational institutions then the new visa would give them the freedom to fulfil their aspirations and advance their careers. This was also an important step in the UK-India 2030 roadmap, and was launched by Indian PM, Narendra Modi, and UK PM, Boris Johnson, in the year 2021.

The UK’s Graduate Route Visa provides international students with an opportunity to stay in the UK and work or look for work. It’s available for the international students who had been awarded their degree to stay in the UK at any skill for 2 years or 3 years for the doctoral students.

G7 nations to give over 1 billion COVID vaccine doses to poor nations: UK PM Boris Johnson

Aryan Jakhar — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 06:50:58 +0000

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Group of Seven wealthy nations have pledged over 1 billion coronavirus vaccine doses for poorer nations. Speaking at the end of a G-7 leaders’ summit in southwest England on Sunday, Johnson said the doses would come both directly and through the international COVAX program.

The commitment falls far short of the 11 billion doses the head of the World Health Organization said is needed to vaccinate at least 70% of the world’s population by mid-2022 and truly end the pandemic

The Group of Seven leaders are expected to make other commitments after their three-day summit, which Johnson hosted. The G-7 nations are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Group of Seven leaders aim to end their first summit in two years with a punchy set of promises Sunday, including vaccinating the world against coronavirus, making huge corporations pay their fair share of taxes and tackling climate change with a blend of technology and money.

Earlier, Johnson, the summit’s host, wanted the three-day meeting to fly the flag for a “Global Britain,” his government’s push to give the midsized country outsized global influence. Yet Brexit cast a shadow over that goal during the summit on the coast of southwest England. European Union leaders and U.S. President Joe Biden voiced concerns about problems with new U.K.-EU trade rules that have heightened tensions in Northern Ireland.

But overall, the mood has been positive: The leaders smiled for the cameras on the beach at cliff-fringed Carbis Bay, a village and resort that became a traffic-clogged fortress for the meeting. The last G-7 summit was in France in 2019, with last year’s event in the United States scuttled by the pandemic.

The leaders mingled with Queen Elizabeth II at a royal reception on their first evening and were served steak and lobster at a beach barbecue after watching an aeronautic display by the Royal Air Force Red Arrows on their second. America’s allies were visibly relieved to have the U.S. back as an engaged international player after the “America First” policy of the Trump administration.

“The United States is back, and democracies of the world are standing together,” Biden said as he arrived in the U.K. on the first foreign trip of his 5-month-old presidency. After the G-7 summit, the president will have tea with the queen on Sunday, attend a NATO summit in Brussels on Monday and hold talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday.

At the G-7, Johnson described Biden as a “breath of fresh air.” French President Emmanuel Macron, after speaking one-to-one with Biden, said, “It’s great to have a U.S. president part of the club and very willing to cooperate.”

The re-energized G-7 made ambitious declarations during their meetings about girls’ education, preventing future pandemics and financing greener infrastructure globally. Above all, they vowed to share vaccine doses with less well-off nations that urgently need them. Johnson said the group would pledge at least 1 billion doses, with half of that coming from the United States and 100 million from Britain.

World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other public health officials commended the vaccine pledge but said it’s not enough. To truly end the pandemic, he said, 11 billion doses are needed to vaccinate at least 70% of the world’s population by mid-2022.

“We need more and we need them faster,” Tedros said.

Climate change is a key focus of the leaders’ final day of talks on Sunday, and the group is expected to announce new financing measures to help poorer countries reduce carbon emissions.

The “Build Back Better for the World” plan will promise to offer financing for infrastructure — “from railways in Africa to wind farms in Asia” — to help speed up the global shift to renewable energy. The plan is a response to China’s “belt and road” initiative, which has increased Beijing’s worldwide influence.

Climate activists and analysts say filling a $100 billion annual fund to help poor countries tackle the effects of global warming should be at the top of the G-7′s list. All G-7 countries have pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, but many environmentalists say that will be too little, too late. Naturalist David Attenborough addressed the leaders by video Sunday, warning that humanity is “on the verge of destabilizing the entire planet.”

“If that is so, then the decisions we make this decade — in particular the decisions made by the most economically advanced nations — are the most important in human history,” the veteran documentary filmmaker said.

Max Lawson, head of inequality policy for Oxfam International, welcomed plans to boost investment to help poor countries reduce their carbon footprints but said “it doesn’t help the poor people that are being hit by climate change right now.”

“So, yes, it’s probably a good thing but is it enough? Absolutely not,” he said.

Large crowds of surfers and kayakers took to the sea in a mass protest Saturday to urge better protection for the world’s oceans, while thousands beat drums as they marched outside the summit’s media centre in Falmouth.

“G-7 is all greenwashing,” the protesters sang. “We’re drowning in promises, now’s the time to act.”

White House officials also said Biden wants the G-7 leaders to speak in a single voice against the forced labour practices targeting China’s Uyghur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Biden hopes the denunciation will be part of a joint statement Sunday, but some European allies are reluctant to split so forcefully with Beijing.

Canada, Britain and France largely endorsed Biden’s position on China, while Germany, Italy and the European Union showed more hesitancy, according to two senior Biden administration officials.

The leaders’ final communique is also expected to formally embrace placing a global minimum tax of at least 15% on large multinational companies to stop corporations from using tax havens to avoid taxes.

The minimum rate was championed by the U.S., and dovetails with the aim of Biden — and Johnson — to focus the summit on ways the democracies can collaborate to build a more inclusive, fair global economy and to compete with rising autocracies like China. Non-G-7 nations India, South Korea, Australia and South Africa were invited to attend as guests to bolster the group’s support for fellow democracies.

U.K. PM Boris Johnson calls on G7 leaders to vaccinate world against COVID-19 by the end of 2022

Aryan Jakhar — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 04:32:24 +0000

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday called for leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to make a commitment to vaccinate the entire world against COVID-19 by the end of 2022 when they meet in Britain next week.

Johnson will host the first in-person summit in almost two years of G7 leaders – which follows a meeting of the group’s finance ministers which wrapped up earlier in the day – and said he would seek a pledge to hit the global vaccination goal.

“Vaccinating the world by the end of next year would be the single greatest feat in medical history,” Johnson said in a statement. “I’m calling on my fellow G7 leaders to join us to end this terrible pandemic and pledge we will never allow the devastation wreaked by coronavirus to happen again.”

The leaders of Germany, France, the United States, Italy, Japan, the European Union and Canada will join Johnson for the three-day summit in Cornwall, southwest England, which begins on Friday. It will be the first overseas trip for U.S. President Joe Biden since he took office in January.

While the richest nations have been vaccinating large numbers of their populations, many poorer countries have not had the same access to vaccines. And health experts have warned that unless more COVID-19 shots were donated, the virus will continue to spread and mutate.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in London for the finance ministers meeting, said it was urgent for the richest nations to promote vaccinations in poorer countries that could not afford to buy them.

She also repeated the U.S. position that patent rights should be removed for the vaccines, and said they were doing everything they could to address supply chain problems that were preventing a build-up of shots in other parts of the world.

PM Modi holds virtual summit with Boris Johnson; Aims at increasing bilateral trade by 2030

Meemansa Shekhawat — Tue, 04 May 2021 15:12:59 +0000

Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a virtual summit with the UK PM Boris Johnson, on Tuesday, informs PM Modi in his tweet.

He tweets, “Had a productive virtual summit with my friend UK PM Boris Johnson. We adopted an ambitious roadmap 2030 for elevating India-UK ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”

Had a productive Virtual Summit with my friend UK PM @BorisJohnson. We adopted an ambitious Roadmap 2030 for elevating India-UK ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2021

Further adding, PM Modi says that they embrace the launch of an Enhanced Trade Partnership intending to accelerate the bilateral trade by the year 2030. They’ve also had a discourse on various other subjects like health, technology, energy, etc.

“We welcomed the launch of an Enhanced Trade Partnership as a roadmap to a comprehensive FTA, with a target to more than double the bilateral trade by 2030. We also agreed upon several new initiatives in health, technology, energy, etc,” tweets PM Modi.

In addition to this, he informs, “We discussed ongoing cooperation on Covid-19 pandemic and reiterated commitment to ambitious climate action to meet Paris goals in the run-up to COP26”.

We discussed ongoing cooperation on COVID-19 pandemic and reiterated commitment to ambitious climate action to meet Paris goals in the run-up to COP26.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 4, 2021

Also, as per the reports of the ministry of external affairs, the summit will be a significant opportunity that will elevate multi-dimensional strategic ties between the two countries. Also, both the leaders will discuss the Covid-19 and global endeavors to fight out the same.

Well, earlier, UK PM Johnson was scheduled to visit India late in April. However, due to the surging up of Covid cases in the country, he called it off.

Meanwhile, the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on his visit to London till the 6th of May to participate in the G-7 Foreign Ministers meeting.

UK sends crucial medical supplies to India amid oxygen crisis; UK PM Boris Johnson vows to “stand side by side”

Shreejit Shelar — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 18:17:27 +0000

While India is reeling under the fury of the novel coronavirus, the United Kingdom is sending ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to India to help the nation retain its grasp over the Covid-19 pandemic.

The British High Commission in a press statement said that the UK was dispatching “more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment” to “ support the country in its fight against Covid-19.”

United Kingdom said it was sending more than 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India to help the country with a surge in #COVID19 cases. The first shipment due to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday: Reuters quoting British foreign ministry

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to “stand side by side” with India in its struggle against the coronavirus.

On Sunday – for the fourth day in a row – India set a new global record for daily Covid-19 infections.

According to the reports, India’s health ministry reported 349,691 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 16.96 million, second only to the US.

The second wave of the Covid-19 has triggered an unprecedented surge in the cases which has increased the demand for medical supplies, especially oxygen which has proven to be one of the crucial elements for the patients contracting the novel virus.

Following discussions with Indian ministers, the UK is sending the first shipment of supplies on Sunday – due to arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday – with further shipments to follow.

“We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner in the fight against COVID19. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he vowed his support to India.

We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner in fight against COVID19. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time: Reuters quoting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/tFimeYyZmX

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Britain will issue support by sending over 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India. In total, nine airline container loads of supplies – including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators – will be sent to India from the UK this week.

Britain has announced that it's sending over 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India to help the country with a surge in #COVID19 cases; visuals from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, UK pic.twitter.com/mpQcNSlfgG

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock reflected on the same and said, “We are determined to support the people of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial delivery happen.

“This first delivery of life-saving equipment will provide much-needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this dreadful disease together,” he added.

Earlier this week, the United Kingdom added India to its ‘Red-list’ after detecting 103 cases of a coronavirus variant – first identified in the country.

UK adds India to COVID-19 travel ‘red list’

Shreejit Shelar — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 20:24:26 +0000

The United Kingdom is adding India to its ‘Red-list’ after detecting 103 cases of a coronavirus variant – first identified in the country, health minister Matt Hancock said on Monday. The rules come into force at 4 a.m. local time (0300 GMT) on Friday, reported ANI.

“We’ve made the difficult but vital decision to add India to the Red List. This means anyone who is not the UK or Irish resident or a British citizen cannot enter the UK if they’ve been in India in the previous 10 days,” Hancock told parliament.

“We have recently seen a new variant first identified in India. We have now detected 103 cases of this variant,” Hancock said.

The UK health secretary has also stated that UK and Irish residents and British citizens who have been in India in the past 10 days before their arrival will need to complete hotel quarantine for 10 days from the time of arrival.

Meanwhile, the British High Commission in India supported UK’s decision and said that it will help prevent the spread of variants of concern and protect the most vulnerable.

“If you are a British or Irish National in , or an Indian national with residency rights in the UK , you will now be required to undergo 10 full days managed hotel quarantine on arrival in England at your expense,” it added.

The Russian Embassy’s visa section temporarily cease its operations until further notice due to India’s Covid-19 situation, reported ANI.

The recent decision comes in light of surging case numbers and the emergence of a new Covid-19 variant in India.

In the event, the UK and Indian governments earlier Monday called off Johnson’s visit, which was set for next week after already being postponed in January. It would have been Johnson’s first major foreign visit since he took power in 2019, reported News18.

“In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week,” the two governments said in a joint statement.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson cancels his visit to India amid rising COVID-19 cases

News Desk — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 10:38:37 +0000

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday cancelled a planned trip to India, scheduled to take place next week, due to the current coronavirus situation in India, Mr. Johnson’s office said.

Earlier, Downing Street had said that due to the coronavirus pandemic crisis in India, PM Johnson has decided to shorten the length of his planned visit – with the bulk of the programme now set to take place during the course of Monday, 26 April. But now the trip was cancelled completely.

A joint statement released by Mr. Johnson’s office quotes,“In the light of the current coronavirus situation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will not be able to travel to India next week. Instead Prime Ministers Modi and Johnson will speak later this month to agree and launch their ambitious plans for the future partnership between the UK and India.”

While Indian MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “The decision was taken as per mutual agreement by both sides.”

“Both leaders attach the highest importance to taking the India-UK partnership to its fullest potential and propose to remain in close touch in this regard and look forward to an in-person meeting later in the year,” Bagchi added.

UK PM Johnson said it was “only sensible” to scrap the trip “given what’s happened in India, the shape of the pandemic there”.

UK Prime Minister further added, “Countries around the world including our own have been through this. I think everybody’s got a massive amount of sympathy with India, what they’re going through. And I just want to stress that this is, we’re going to be going back, the relationship between the UK and India is of huge importance, and I’ll be talking to Narendra Modi on Monday, we’ll be trying to do as much as we can, virtually. Of course it will be frustrating, but we’ll try and replicate as much as we can remotely, and then look forward to doing it in person as and when circumstances allow, and hopefully before the Cop summit in November and hopefully we’ll get Narendra Modi over for the G7 in June.”

Asked why India had not yet been added to the UK’s travel red list given its COVID situation, Mr Johnson said: “The red list is very much a matter for the independent UK Health Security Agency – they will have to take that decision.”

Earlier this year, Johnson was invited as the chief guest in the Republic Day of India but it was cancelled due to surge in coronavirus cases in the UK.

UK PM Borris Johnson greets India on Republic Day, says working togather to free humanity from the coronavirus

Devanshu Singla — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 08:16:52 +0000

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his Republic Day message said that the UK and India are working side by side to free humanity from the coronavirus pandemic.

Johnson was due to be in New Delhi as the chief guest at the annual parade to mark the India’s 72nd Republic Day but had to call off the visit to focus on the domestic crisis unleashed by the emergence of a new, deadlier variant of coronavirus in the UK at the end of last year.

In his video message the UK PM reiterated his plan to visit India in the coming months.

I was hugely looking forward to joining you for this important occasion at the kind invitation of my friend Prime Minister Modi, alas our common struggle against COVID has kept me in London, said Johnson.

As I speak, our two countries are working side by side to develop, produce and distribute vaccines that will help to free humanity from the pandemic. And thanks to the combined efforts of Britain, India and many other nations, we are on the road to success against COVID.

So, I look forward to visiting India later this year, strengthening our friendship, and striving for the quantum leap in our relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have both pledged to achieve, he said. Addressing the Indian diaspora in the UK, he added,All over the world, this virus is compelling people to stay apart, including family and friends in Britain and India, who form what Prime Minister Modi has called the living bridge between us. But for now, let me wish everyone in India as well as those celebrating here in Britain, a very happy Republic Day, the British prime minister said.

New COVID-19 strain with higher mortality, lockdown to remain: UK PM Boris Johnson

Ruchira Sonawat — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 09:06:48 +0000

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, on Friday, warned about the new Coronavirus strain could be more deadly as well as more transmissible and that the country faces a long wait before it can emerge from lockdown. He also said that the new COVID-19 strain has a higher degree of mortality.

“In addition to spreading more quickly, it also now appears that there is some evidence that the new variant – the variant that was first identified in London and the South East – may be associated with a higher degree of mortality,” Johnson said from 10 Downing Street.

The warning comes as Britain grapples with the third and the worst wave of the Coronavirus with the highest death toll in Europe and battles to recover from the economic wreckage of its deepest recession in more than 300 years.

Chief government scientist Patrick Vallance said the new variant could be 30-40 per cent more deadly for some age groups, although he stressed the assessment relied on sparse data. Virus deaths have risen 16 per cent over the past week, while the number of people hospitalised with COVID-19 is approaching double the number seen during the worst days of the first wave of the pandemic in April.

There is no evidence that the vaccines being deployed in Britain are any less effective against the deadlier variant of the virus, Johnson said. But infection rates remain high, with on average, one in 35 people in London has the disease, and the figure is one in 55 nationally. Data published earlier on Friday showed that 5.38 million people had been given their first dose of a vaccine, with 409,855 receiving it in the past 24 hours, a record high so far.

Republic day chief guest, UK PM Boris Johnson cancels visit to India

Divya Joyce — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 13:25:57 +0000

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was the chief guest at Republic Day, has cancelled his visit to India, reports said on Tuesday.

Reuters reported that Boris Johnson has said that he needs to be in the country to oversee Coronavirus response.

The British Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed his regret over not being able to visit India as planned for Republic Day on January 26 due to the growing COVID-19 crisis, PTI reported.

A Downing Street spokesperson was quoted saying, “The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Modi this morning, to express his regret that he will be unable to visit India later this month as planned. In light of the national lockdown announced last night, and the speed at which the new Coronavirus variant is spreading, the Prime Minister said that it was important for him to remain in the UK so he can focus on the domestic response to the virus.”

Boris Johnson has indicated that his India visit would take place during the first half of this year and before the G7 summit presided over by the UK, planned for later this year.

On Monday, Johnson addressed Britain in a televised address to plunge the country into a new stay-at-home lockdown as his medical chiefs warned that the National Health Service (NHS) was under threat of being overwhelmed by the rising Coronavirus infection rates.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who was on India visit last month, had confirmed that Johnson would be the chief guest at the Republic Day ceremony on January 26.

“I am pleased that PM Boris Johnson has invited PM Modi to join the UK-hosted G7 summit next year. UK Prime Minister Johnson has also accepted the very generous invitation to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations in January, which is a great honour,” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said during a press conference.

More details awaited.