Aditi Khanna

Stories by Aditi Khanna

UK PM confirms lockdown end on July 19, with warning pandemic not over

UK PM confirms lockdown end on July 19, with warning pandemic not over

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2021

Addressing a virtual Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson acknowledged the divided views on lifting all lockdown restrictions to declare that his update does not imply that the pandemic "is over".

Duchess of Cambridge self-isolating after Covid contact

Duchess of Cambridge self-isolating after Covid contact

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2021

Kate's last public event was a visit to Wimbledon on Friday in her role as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club and a keen tennis fan.

Masks to become personal choice as UK lifts lockdown

Masks to become personal choice as UK lifts lockdown

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2021

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said there will be a move towards greater "personal responsibility" as the UK prepares to end lockdown restrictions from July 19.

Princes William, Harry unite to unveil mom Diana's statue

Princes William, Harry unite to unveil mom Diana's statue

Rediff.com   1 Jul 2021

Princes William and Harry on Thursday came together to unveil a new statue in memory of their late mother, Princess Diana, on what would have been her 60th birthday, saying they remember her love, strength and character -- the qualities that made her a 'force for good' around the world.

Nirav Modi renews UK extradition appeal, to be heard on July 21

Nirav Modi renews UK extradition appeal, to be heard on July 21

Rediff.com   29 Jun 2021

The 50-year-old jeweller, who remains behind bars at Wandsworth Prison in south-west London, had lost the first stage of the high court appeals process last week as a judge declined permission to appeal "on the papers". Modi's lawyers had five days to file a renewal application seeking an oral hearing to plead the case for permission to appeal against the extradition ordered by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel on April 16.

Nirav Modi's extradition plea rejected by UK high court, has 5 days to appeal

Nirav Modi's extradition plea rejected by UK high court, has 5 days to appeal

Rediff.com   23 Jun 2021

Wanted diamond merchant Nirav Modi, whose extradition to India was ordered in April by UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in the estimated USD 2-billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam case, has lost the first stage of his extradition appeal in the high court in London.

Record numbers rush for jabs as UK opens COVID vaccines to all adults

Record numbers rush for jabs as UK opens COVID vaccines to all adults

Rediff.com   20 Jun 2021

As many as 721,469 appointments were made through the national booking service on Friday -- the day of the announcement -- at an average of more than eight every second. To cope with demand, the NHS said it is using stadiums and football grounds as giant vaccination centres.

Murthy-Amazon tax dispute draws in son-in-law Sunak

Murthy-Amazon tax dispute draws in son-in-law Sunak

Rediff.com   14 Jun 2021

"Reaching an international agreement on how large digital companies are taxed has been a priority for the chancellor since he took office," said a spokesperson for his UK treasury office. "The chancellor's consistent position has been that it matters where tax is paid, and any agreement must ensure digital businesses pay tax in the UK that reflects their economic activities. That is what our taxpayers would expect and is the right thing," the spokesperson said.

G7 leaders discuss Wuhan lab leak theory behind Covid

G7 leaders discuss Wuhan lab leak theory behind Covid

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2021

World leaders gathered at the G7 Summit in Cornwall discussed the possibility that a laboratory leak in central China's Wuhan city may have a connection with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) chief saying all hypotheses behind the origins of the deadly disease remain in play.

Delta variant reduces vaccine effect: UK experts

Delta variant reduces vaccine effect: UK experts

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2021

The Delta variant of COVID-19, or the B1.617.2 variant of concern (VOC) first identified in India, is about 60 per cent more transmissible than the Alpha strain identified in the United Kingdom and also reduces the effectiveness of vaccines to some extent, UK health experts report.

Outage at website hosting firm hits internet across Europe, US

Outage at website hosting firm hits internet across Europe, US

Rediff.com   8 Jun 2021

Several major websites across the world, including the UK government's Gov.Uk website, crashed for some time on Tuesday due to an outage at global website hosting service Fastly.

Over 200 world leaders urge G7 to help vaccinate world's poorest

Over 200 world leaders urge G7 to help vaccinate world's poorest

Rediff.com   7 Jun 2021

Over 200 world leaders, including former presidents, prime ministers and ministers have backed a campaign urging the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations to help vaccinate the world's poorest from low-income economies against COVID-19 by paying two-thirds of an estimated $66 billion required.

UK regulator approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for 12-15 yr olds

UK regulator approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines for 12-15 yr olds

Rediff.com   5 Jun 2021

The UK's medicines regulator on Friday approved the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for 12 to 15 year olds.

British intel report says Covid may have leaked from Chinese lab

British intel report says Covid may have leaked from Chinese lab

Rediff.com   31 May 2021

British intelligence agencies now believe it is 'feasible' that the COVID-19 pandemic began with a coronavirus leak from a Chinese bio laboratory, a media report said here on Sunday, prompting Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi to demand that the World Health Organisation (WHO) must fully investigate the origins of the deadly virus.

UK all set to kickstart FTA talks with Modi govt

UK all set to kickstart FTA talks with Modi govt

Rediff.com   25 May 2021

The UK government said on Tuesday that it has kicked off preparations for a free trade agreement (FTA) with India, launching a 14-week consultation to seek the views of the public and business before formal negotiations begin later this year. UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss said Britain wants a trade deal with India that pushes new frontiers and welcomes wide input from consumers and businesses across all sectors, which will help craft a deal that includes closer cooperation in "future-focused industries" such as science, technology and services, creating high-value jobs across the country. "We're firing the starting gun on a free trade deal with India - the world's largest democracy, fifth-biggest economy, a nation of 1.4 billion people and a huge market for British goods like whisky, cars and services," said Truss.

William, Harry condemn BBC 'deceit' over Diana interview

William, Harry condemn BBC 'deceit' over Diana interview

Rediff.com   21 May 2021

In separate statements following an independent inquiry's conclusion that the BBC "fell short of the high standards of integrity and transparency which are its hallmark", her sons blamed the controversial 1995 interview for her "fear and paranoia" that damaged their parents' relationship.

BBC apologises for cover up in 1995 Diana interview scoop

BBC apologises for cover up in 1995 Diana interview scoop

Rediff.com   20 May 2021

The BBC on Thursday issued an apology as an inquiry concluded that the media corporation had covered up the tactics used by journalist Martin Bashir to secure his famous 1995 interview scoop with Princess Diana, in which the late Princess of Wales opened up about her troubled marriage to Prince Charles.

Vijay Mallya loses bankruptcy case in UK high court

Vijay Mallya loses bankruptcy case in UK high court

Rediff.com   18 May 2021

A consortium of Indian banks led by the State Bank of India (SBI) on Tuesday moved a step closer in their attempt to recover debt from loans paid out to Vijay Mallya's now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines after the high court in London upheld an application to amend their bankruptcy petition, in favour of waiving their security over the embattled businessman's assets in India. Chief Insolvencies and Companies Court (ICC) Judge Michael Briggs handed down his judgment in favour of the banks to declare there is no public policy that prevents a waiver of security rights, as argued by Mallya's lawyers. At a virtual hearing, July 26 was set as the date for final arguments for and against granting a bankruptcy order against the 65-year-old Mallya after the banks accused him of trying to "kick matters into the long grass" and called on the "bankruptcy petition to be brought to its inevitable end".

China probed weaponising COVID in 2015: Reports

China probed weaponising COVID in 2015: Reports

Rediff.com   10 May 2021

The paper also includes musing that SARS -- which hit China in 2003 -- could have been a man-made bioweapon deliberately unleashed by "terrorists".

Sadiq Khan wins second term as London Mayor, hails overwhelming mandate

Sadiq Khan wins second term as London Mayor, hails overwhelming mandate

Rediff.com   9 May 2021

The Pakistani-origin former Labour member of Parliament was the first Muslim mayor of a European capital city when he was first elected in 2016. The mayoral poll was due last year but was postponed by a year at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.