Aditi Khanna

Stories by Aditi Khanna

Will Rishi Sunak move next door, into 10, Downing Street?

Will Rishi Sunak move next door, into 10, Downing Street?

Rediff.com   14 Jan 2022

As Boris Johnson's "partygate" troubles mount and members of his own Conservative Party demand he step down as the British prime minister, one name is doing the rounds as a frontrunner to take charge -- his Indian-origin chancellor and Downing Street neighbour Rishi Sunak.

Arms dealer Bhandari sues French firm for unpaid cut in Indian deal

Arms dealer Bhandari sues French firm for unpaid cut in Indian deal

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2022

Sanjay Bhandari, an accused arms dealer wanted in India on money laundering and tax evasion charges, is pursuing a separate legal battle of his own in France over an alleged unpaid cut from a large Indian defence contract dating back over 10 years, according to a UK media report.

Common cold T cells may offer Covid protection: Study

Common cold T cells may offer Covid protection: Study

Rediff.com   10 Jan 2022

The researchers believe their findings provide a blueprint for a second-generation, universal vaccine that could prevent infection from current and future SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron.

Booster dose better at protecting Omicron patients above 65: Study

Booster dose better at protecting Omicron patients above 65: Study

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2022

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) analysis showed that around three months after the third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remains at about 90 per cent.

UK has sought info on use of FCRA by India, House of Lords told

UK has sought info on use of FCRA by India, House of Lords told

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

The UK government has asked for specific numbers over a period to drill-down on the use of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act by the Indian government around funding licences of non-governmental organisations, the House of Lords was informed during a debate.

Expert warns of more virulent coronavirus after milder Omicron

Expert warns of more virulent coronavirus after milder Omicron

Rediff.com   7 Jan 2022

The reduced severity of Omicron is good news for now, but it is the result of an "evolutionary mistake" as Covid-19 is transmitting very efficiently and there is no reason for it to become milder, indicating that the next variant could be more virulent, a leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge has warned.

Omicron's mildness a 'mistake', Covid not getting milder: UK expert

Omicron's mildness a 'mistake', Covid not getting milder: UK expert

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2022

The reduced severity of the Omicron variant is good news for now, but it is the result of an 'evolutionary mistake' and does not indicate that the virus which causes COVID-19 is becoming less virulent, a leading Indian-origin scientist from the University of Cambridge warned on Thursday.

UK mulls tougher curbs as Omicron cases hit new peak

UK mulls tougher curbs as Omicron cases hit new peak

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2021

The UK cabinet is on Monday holding talks to consider options for tougher lockdown restrictions as the country recorded another daily high of Omicron cases at 12,133.

UK logs 93,045 new Covid cases amid surge in Omicron infections

UK logs 93,045 new Covid cases amid surge in Omicron infections

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2021

The UK reported 93,045 cases of coronavirus on Friday, another record high for daily infections for the third consecutive day, as Omicron overtook Delta to become the dominant variant in London and Scotland.

Verdict on Nirav Modi's extradition appeal likely in Jan 2022

Verdict on Nirav Modi's extradition appeal likely in Jan 2022

Rediff.com   14 Dec 2021

The High Court in London on Tuesday began hearing Nirav Modi's appeal on the grounds of his mental health against extradition to India to face charges of fraud and money laundering, amounting to an estimated $2 billion in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan scam case. Lord Justice Jeremy Stuart-Smith and Justice Robert Jay presided over the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice to determine whether District Judge Sam Goozee's February ruling in favour of extradition was incorrect to overlook the diamond merchant's "high risk of suicide". The court heard of an additional assurance from the Indian authorities on November 13, which reiterates previous commitments of adequate specialist medical care and an ambulance at hand were Nirav to be extradited to Mumbai.

Britain reports world's first known Omicron death

Britain reports world's first known Omicron death

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2021

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday confirmed the UK's first death from the Omicron variant of coronavirus, the first known fatality from the highly transmissible variant of Covid-19 in the world.

UK sees long queues for Omicron booster dose

UK sees long queues for Omicron booster dose

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2021

Long queues were seen outside walk-in vaccination centres across the UK on Monday as people queued for their booster vaccine doses, even as the government's work from home guidance came in force as part of measures to tackle the "tidal wave" of the Omicron variant of COVID-19.

UK opens up COVID boosters to all over 30s in Omicron fight

UK opens up COVID boosters to all over 30s in Omicron fight

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2021

There are around 7.5 million people aged 30 to 39, and 3.5 million of those are eligible for boosters from Monday, NHS England said.

Next virus could be more lethal, warns AstraZeneca vaccine creator

Next virus could be more lethal, warns AstraZeneca vaccine creator

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2021

'This will not be the last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods'

UK's new antibody treatment against Covid may work against Omicron

UK's new antibody treatment against Covid may work against Omicron

Rediff.com   2 Dec 2021

The UK's medicines regulator on Thursday approved a new antibody treatment against COVID-19, which it believes will also be effective against new variants such as Omicron.

China, Russia, Iran and terrorism big 4 threats, says UK spy chief

China, Russia, Iran and terrorism big 4 threats, says UK spy chief

Rediff.com   30 Nov 2021

China, Russia, Iran and international terrorism form the 'big four' set of security threats in an era of dramatic change, Britain's chief spy said in a rare public speech on Tuesday.

6 Omicron cases detected in Scotland, some without travel history

6 Omicron cases detected in Scotland, some without travel history

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2021

Six cases of the new COVID-19 Omicron variant have been identified in Scotland on Monday, taking the UK's total to nine following three cases detected in England earlier.

Omicron variant: UK, EU ban travellers from 7 African nations

Omicron variant: UK, EU ban travellers from 7 African nations

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2021

The move came soon after Belgium confirmed a case of the B.1.1.529 variant in someone who had travelled back from Egypt earlier this month, with the European Union (EU) member states agreeing to a snap travel ban on seven African nations.

UK, EU agree to travel ban on 7 African nations

UK, EU agree to travel ban on 7 African nations

Rediff.com   27 Nov 2021

The UK's health authorities have confirmed that a new and "most significant" variant of COVID-19 is officially under investigation in the country as the government on Friday added six countries to its travel ban red list from southern Africa, where B.1.1.529 strain was first identified.

Beware! New COVID-19 variant with high spike mutations detected in South Africa

Beware! New COVID-19 variant with high spike mutations detected in South Africa

Rediff.com   25 Nov 2021

The South African authorities said the detected cases and percentage of people testing positive are both increasing quickly, particularly in particularly in most populated province of Gauteng, North West and Limpopo regions of the country.