THE UK needs to remain vigilant against the Covid-19 virus, an influential doctor has warned, following concerns that the Indian variant could overwhelm the NHS and delay the easing of national restrictions next month.
Ministers have voiced concerns in recent days that the B.1.617.2 variant, first seen in India, could spark a third coronavirus wave in the UK and jeopardise plans to lift remaining lockdown rules in June.
According to figures from the Wellcome Sanger Institute on Tuesday (18), the variant was found in 127 local authorities in the week ending May 8. This was compared with 71 in the previous week.
Dr Kailash Chand, the honorary vice-president of the British Medical Association (BMA), cautioned that safety measures needed to be adhered to in light of the new variant – otherwise the healthcare system may be overwhelmed again.
Dr Kailash Chand has warned people to stay vigilant, as Covid restrictions eased on Monday
“Well-established Covid behaviours, such as wearing facemasks and social distancing, will need to continue to reduce the spread of the virus as we improve first-dose vaccine coverage,” the Manchester based doctor told Eastern Eye. “We know that with any rapidly spreading variant, there will be some more severe cases requiring hospitalisation. So we need to be careful, particularly as NHS teams are trying to catch up with all the non-Covid medical backlogs.”
Although he believes the existing vaccines would offer protection from the latest variant, Dr Chand urged for more data on its impact. “We need to keep in mind, the new variants can always appear to be able to bypass the vaccine or natural immunity barriers – unless we keep readjusting our Covid-19 vaccines."
Delayed reopening?
On Monday (17), it was reported that officials were considering contingency plans for local lockdowns or a delay to reopening after June 21 in response to concern about the spread of the variant.
According to news first reported by The Times, ministers have drawn up plans modelled on the Tier 4 restrictions introduced last year. People would be advised to stay at home and non-essential shops and hospitality would be closed if the variant was not brought under control, the newspaper added.
Prime minister Boris Johnson has already warned the spread of the new variant may impact the country’s full exit from restrictions. “We’re serving notice that we do think, I think, that it certainly may cause disruption to our attempts to continue down the roadmap,” Johnson told a Downing Street briefing last week.
Some areas in the UK are offering increased testing to stop the Indian variant spreading
Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed that early indications showed vaccines were protecting the elderly against the variant. He said there were 2,323 confirmed cases of the B.1.617.2 variant, and in the north-west town of Bolton, the majority of the 19 who had been hospitalised had not been vaccinated even though they were eligible.
“This shows the new variant is not tending to penetrate into older vaccinated groups, and it underlines again the importance of getting the jab,” Hancock told parliament on Monday.
Johnson previously confirmed the government would accelerate remaining second doses to the over-50s and those clinically vulnerable to just eight weeks after the first dose, and would prioritise first doses for those eligible who had not yet come forward.
'Window of opportunity'
In London, mayor Sadiq Khan estimated there were around 400 positive cases in the capital. Around 100 of those cases had a travel link to India, Khan said. “We are thoroughly contact tracing those who have tested positive to see who they have been in contact with,” he said on Monday.
The variant is thought to be on the rise in five of the capital’s boroughs – Bromley and Croydon, Ealing and Hillingdon, and Hackney. Khan confirmed he was in touch with the government about increasing the vaccination programme within those hot spot areas.
In Lancashire, experts said Blackburn with Darwen was entering its “most critical” stage in the pandemic as vaccination and testing were ramped up to halt the spread of the Indian variant. The borough’s public health director, Professor Dominic Harrison, appealed for anyone eligible for a jab to take it – even if they were under 36, which is the new lower age limit.
He said there was a “window of opportunity” to tackle the spread of the Indian variant as extra vaccines and surge testing were pumped in over the next two weeks. Harrison said he would oppose any new local restrictions in Blackburn with Darwen as it would just create a “yo-yo” effect of the borough going in and out of lockdown.
The variant is thought to be on the rise in five of London’s boroughs
He was speaking as six new vaccination sites prepared to open this week across East Lancashire to combat the spread of the new variant. Two are in Blackburn, one in Darwen, one in Accrington and one in Burnley. Although the centres will not deliver Covid-19 jabs to everyone, they will offer immunisation to those between 18 and 36 with underlying health conditions or who live, care for or work with anyone with such conditions.
Surge PCR testing is being introduced in the three wards in Blackburn with Darwen where the Indian variant has been identified – Shear Brow and Corporation Park, Bastwell and Daisyfield and Billinge and Beardwood.
Harrison said: “The next two weeks are the most critical so far in the pandemic. This is because we now have a window of opportunity with the acceleration of vaccinations and testing. We do have high and rising rates and seven people from across Pennine Lancashire in the Royal Blackburn Hospital with Covid, so we need people to get vaccinated and tested now and to observe the ‘hands, face and space’ guidelines,”
he said.
“Although the new variant is more transmissible, we have no evidence to suggest that it can make you more ill or is more deadly. I would appeal to those who are hesitant about the jab to have it now.”
'Only a matter of time'
In the West Midlands, health chiefs in Solihull said they were keeping a “close watch” on Covid cases after the variant was detected in the region. West Midlands-wide there have been 62 confirmed cases. It’s understood just “a couple” of these are in Solihull, although the council’s public health team has declined to give an exact figure, arguing it needed to ensure “anonymity” given “the numbers are so small”.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, deputy leader of the council, called for a “ring of steel” around hotspots in the north-west and said the situation locally was being closely monitored. “I have been in talks with the public health team, and we are really keeping a close watch,” she said. “We don’t want the virus running off again and escalating and we are very mindful of what’s going on.”
She said Solihull’s contact tracing team – which was now run directly by the council – had been in touch with anyone who needed to isolate.
Meanwhile, public health chiefs in Bedford believe the city is now back to where it was in October and November after the variant spread in recent weeks. Officials were told the majority of the 34 Indian variant cases so far identified were “not travel related” but may have been spread by social activities among friends.
Borough public health chief, Ian Brown, said: “I believe we’ve been unlucky in Bedford in that there were maybe a series of unfortunate events that led to a couple of gatherings and some super-spreading that’s now seeded into a number of our areas. We are seeing entire households infected in a short space of time.”
The situation in Bedford Hospital was described as “stable” and there has not been an increase in deaths. The council has requested that “surge testing” be carried out and more mobile test units are due to arrive in the borough.
Brown said: “The conditions are fairly ripe everywhere for this to happen in other places (and) unfortunately I suspect that much like October and November when we saw the Kent variant spread very rapidly, my suspicion is it is only a matter of time.”
In response to the further easing of restrictions which took place on Monday, the BMA called on the government to stand by its “cautious approach”. The BMA’s public health medicine committee co-chair, Dr Richard Jarvis, said: “To ensure we do not undo all the hard work and sacrifice of the previous lockdown, the government must continue to monitor the situation with extreme vigilance and have the willingness to act quickly and apply the brakes if needed to prevent the situation getting out of control for a third time.”
(With agencies and the Local Democracy Reporting Service)
Crowd control concerns led to the early closure of one of the main stages at the Parklife festival on its final day, prompting the cancellation of two anticipated DJ performances. The Matinee stage at Manchester’s Heaton Park was closed on Sunday evening, 15 June, after organisers acted on safety advice from their event team.
Attendees were instructed to leave the area as the show was paused. Later in the evening, festival organisers confirmed that the stage would remain shut for the rest of the night.
Josh Baker and Chris Stussy unable to perform
Local DJ Josh Baker and Danish artist Chris Stussy were both scheduled to perform at the Matinee stage. Baker, who was due to play from 6.30pm to 8pm, shared a message on Instagram, saying: “Unfortunately, I will not be performing at Parklife due to reasons outside of my control. I deeply apologise. I can't really put into words what today was going to mean for me.”
Chris Stussy had been due to headline the stage with a three-hour set from 8pm to 11pm. He also addressed the cancellation on Instagram, saying he was “really gutted” and emphasised that “safety comes first,” noting the stage was shut due to overcrowding.
Festival issues official statement
An in-app message from the Parklife festival initially alerted attendees that the Matinee stage show had been paused, with further updates to follow. A full statement later explained the rationale behind the decision.
Festival organisers confirmed that the stage would remain shut for the rest of the night.Manchester News
“As a result of crowd movement at the Matinee Stage and on the advice of our safety team to remove the risk of any potential incidents, Parklife made the decision to close the stage for the remainder of the final day of the festival,” said a spokesperson.
Safety prioritised over rescheduling
Organisers added that it was not feasible to move the affected performances to another venue within the festival grounds. “Unfortunately it has been impossible to relocate Josh Baker’s and Chris Stussy’s performances to a new stage,” the statement said. “The safety of our festival attendees is always our utmost priority.”
Despite the disruption at the Matinee stage, the rest of the Parklife festival continued as scheduled, and no injuries were reported in connection with the incident.
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The house, designed as a symbol of enduring love and modesty
In Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, Anand Prakash Chouksey has built a striking replica of the Taj Mahal — not as a monument to grandeur, but as a tribute to his wife. The house, designed as a symbol of enduring love and modesty, has captured the internet’s attention following a viral video tour.
The house is a four-bedroom property built using Makrana marble — the same stone used in the original Taj Mahal in Agra. While the original monument's dimensions are in metres, Chouksey’s version was constructed using scaled-down measurements in feet. This results in a structure roughly one-third the size of the original, but retaining key architectural elements such as domes, carved pillars, and Mughal-style arches.
Located on school campus founded by owner
What makes the house even more distinctive is its location within the grounds of a school established by Chouksey himself. In a now-viral video shared by content creator Priyam Saraswat, Chouksey offers a tour of the home and highlights personal touches embedded in its design.
One notable detail is a buffalo motif on the floor — a nod to Chouksey’s early life distributing milk. He explained that this reminder of his humble beginnings serves as a daily lesson in staying grounded and avoiding arrogance.
Viral video receives overwhelming praise
The video, shared on Instagram, quickly gained traction, racking up over 6.5 million views within just eight hours. Viewers were drawn not only to the impressive architecture but also to the emotional story behind the home.
Comments across social media praised the gesture and the message it conveyed. “Uncle has a more beautiful heart than his Mahal,” one user wrote, while another highlighted the buffalo symbol as a meaningful lesson in humility. Many also remarked on the positive energy and “cool vibe” of the homeowner.
Promoting unity through design
Inside, the home reflects a blend of traditional Islamic design and modern interiors. Future plans reportedly include placing the Indian national flag on top of the structure and adding symbols from India’s major religions on the minarets. According to Chouksey, the aim is to promote a message of unity and peace in an often divided world.
The replica Taj Mahal in Burhanpur stands not only as an architectural feat but also as a reminder of love, simplicity, and the importance of staying connected to one’s roots.
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A one-hour delay in sleep routine is linked to a sharper drop in cognition over time, the study found
A night owl, or an evening person with a late sleep-wake cycle, could be at a higher risk of cognitive decline with age compared to an early bird or a morning person, a study has found.
Chronotype refers to one’s sleep-wake type or times during the day when one naturally tends to be awake and asleep. A ‘night owl’ chronotype is said to have a later sleep-wake cycle, compared to an ‘early bird’ or a ‘lark’.
“Are you an early bird or a night owl? It’s hard to adjust what your biological clock – your so-called chronotype – is, but you can adjust your life to it as best you can,” study author Ana Wenzler, from the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands, said.
Analysing the performance of about 23,800 participants on a cognitive test over a period of 10 years, the study found that ‘evening’ people decline cognitively faster than ‘morning’ people. The findings have been published in the Journal of Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease.
“Unhealthy behaviour such as smoking, drinking and unhealthy eating happens more often in the evening,” Wenzler said.
“In our study, we also saw this: evening people smoke and drink more often and exercise less. Twenty-five per cent of the risk of cognitive decline can be explained from our research by smoking and poor sleep,” she said.
A greater decline was seen in higher-educated people – a delay of an hour in the sleep-wake cycle corresponded to a decline of 0.8 in cognition per decade. Wenzler said the decline might be related to their disturbed sleep rhythm.
“They are often people who have to go back to work early in the morning and are likely to sleep too short, giving their brains too little rest,” she said.
The author explained that people’s biological clock can change with age.
“Children are morning people. That changes when you reach puberty, when you become an evening person. Around your 20s, that gradually shifts back towards morning people for most people. By the age of 40, most people are morning people again,” Wenzler said.
However, this is certainly not the case for everyone, which is probably why evening people deviate from the norm, according to Wenzler, who recommended working against one’s body “as little as possible”.
“’You can try to go to sleep earlier, but if your body is not yet producing melatonin (sleep hormone), it will not work,” she said.
Wenzler added that if people are forced to work against their natural rhythm, their brains may not get enough rest, increasing the risk of unhealthy habits. “It would help if evening types were given the option to start work later,” she said.
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Father’s Day reflects a wide range of traditions shaped by history, culture and emotion
Father’s Day is often seen as a time for cards, tools or a family lunch, but across the globe, it carries a much deeper significance. Beyond the commercial promotions, Father’s Day reflects a wide range of traditions shaped by history, culture and emotion. While some mark the occasion with grand gestures, others focus on quiet reflection, respect and the bonds that define fatherhood.
Thailand’s day of respect
In Thailand, Father’s Day is celebrated on 5 December, the birthday of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The day is as much about honouring the nation’s former monarch as it is about celebrating fatherhood. Citizens wear yellow, the king’s birth colour, and present canna lilies to their fathers as a symbol of gratitude and respect. It’s a cultural blend of familial and national reverence.
Germany’s tradition of brotherhood
Germany takes a different approach. Known as Vatertag, or Father’s Day, it coincides with Ascension Day and is often marked by groups of men going on hiking trips, pulling wagons of food and drink. While it may appear more social than family-oriented, the tradition is rooted in camaraderie and shared responsibility among men and father figures.
Remembering fathers in Mexico
In Mexico and across parts of Latin America, Father’s Day is a time to honour both the living and the departed. Families often visit cemeteries to pay tribute to late fathers and gather to share stories and memories. It’s a day that highlights legacy over materialism, where the emotional role of a father is celebrated beyond life itself.
The expanding meaning in India
In India, Father’s Day doesn’t have deep historical roots, but its popularity is growing among urban families. Influenced by Western customs, it is increasingly used to recognise not only biological fathers, but also mentors, guardians and elders who provide support and guidance. The day is evolving into a broader celebration of male role models across generations.
A shared message worldwide
Though celebrated in different ways, Father’s Day across cultures shares a central idea: appreciation. Whether through a gift, a walk, a meal or a memory, the day is about acknowledging the role fathers and father figures play in shaping lives. In a time when traditional family structures are changing, this occasion also highlights that fatherhood is defined not just by biology, but by love, responsibility and care.
A thoughtful reminder
Rather than focus on finding the perfect present, Father’s Day offers an opportunity to be present. A simple message, a phone call or a shared moment can mean more than any physical gift. In a fast-moving world, slowing down to recognise those who’ve quietly supported us is perhaps the most meaningful tribute we can give.
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The alert is based on elevated geomagnetic activity levels
A rare display of the aurora borealis was expected over Hertfordshire after a red alert was issued on Friday, 13 June, by space weather experts. The phenomenon, also known as the Northern Lights, is expected to be seen across large parts of the UK if conditions remain clear.
Red alert signals strong aurora activity
AuroraWatch UK, a monitoring service run by Lancaster University’s Space and Planetary Physics group, issued a red alert on Friday morning. According to the service, this means: “It is likely that aurora will be visible by eye and camera from anywhere in the UK.”
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The alert is based on elevated geomagnetic activity levels, which are often triggered by solar storms interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
Best time and places to watch
While the exact time of visibility has not been confirmed, previous sightings of the aurora borealis have typically occurred between 11 pm and the early hours of the morning. Experts recommend heading to dark, open spaces away from streetlights for the best chance of witnessing the lights.
What causes the aurora borealis?
The aurora borealis occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen can produce shades of purple, pink, or blue.
Skywatchers are advised to monitor AuroraWatch UK for real-time updates.