Prasun Sonwalkar was Editor (UK & Europe), Hindustan Times. During more than three decades, he held senior positions on the Desk, besides reporting from India’s north-east and other states, including a decade covering politics from New Delhi. He has been reporting from UK and Europe since 1999.
Articles by Prasun Sonwalkar
‘Rich nations hoarded enough Covid vaccines to inoculate their populations thrice’
The People’s Vaccine, which includes Oxfam, Amnesty International, Frontline AIDS and Global Justice Now, said urgent action is needed from governments and the pharmaceutical industry to make sure enough doses are produced.
Updated on Dec 09, 2020 07:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UK looking at allergic reaction to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine
“We’re looking at two case reports of allergic reactions,’’said Dr June Raine, head of the UK’s medical regulatory agency as she testified on Wednesday to a Parliamentary committee. “We know from the very extensive clinical trials that this wasn’t a feature.”
Updated on Dec 09, 2020 05:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
William Shakespeare among first to get Covid-19 vaccine in UK
‘Bill’ William Shakespeare, 81, received the vaccine in the University Hospital in Coventry in the Midlands, not far from Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of the better-known Bard of Avon.
Updated on Dec 08, 2020 04:43 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Indian-origin Hari Shukla, 87, among first to get UK Covid-19 vaccine today
Shukla, 87, and his wife Ranjan, 83, will receive the first of the two-dose vaccine at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
Updated on Dec 08, 2020 10:38 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UK set to begin ‘marathon’ Covid-19 vaccination drive
Health secretary Matt Hancock called it a “historic moment”, while Stephen Powis, England’s medical director, noted logistical challenges involved and cautioned that Tuesday would mark the beginning of a long haul, calling the vaccination programme “a marathon, not a sprint”.
Updated on Dec 07, 2020 07:16 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Marine plastic pollution: Panaji, Mumbai, Kochi to link with UK towns
Bangor, a town 20 km north-east of Belfast in Northern Ireland, has been chosen to twin with Panaji in Goa, while Glasgow in Scotland is to be similarly linked with Mumbai, and Aberystwyth in Wales is proposed to be twinned with Kochi.
Updated on Dec 07, 2020 05:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Farmers’ stir: India miffed with security after protest in London
The Indian high commission on Sunday questioned the security provided by Scotland Yard after nearly 4,000 agitators were allowed to gather to protest against the recent farm laws in a demonstration that it said included anti-India elements
Updated on Dec 06, 2020 11:44 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
India questions Scotland Yard security after protest over farmers’ issue
Indian quarters expressed strong disappointment over the security arrangements after the protestors were allowed despite restrictions in place over Covid-19.
Updated on Dec 07, 2020 03:24 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Queen Elizabeth, 94, to be among first to receive Covid-19 vaccine in UK
Anti-vaccine claims on social media and elsewhere are among major obstacles faced by the UK’s health officials planning the biggest mass vaccination programme in the country’s history. Leading figures such as Queen Elizabeth taking the vaccine is expected to help overcome anxieties.
Updated on Dec 06, 2020 05:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Farmers’ protest in India: UK refuses to take stand on 36 MPs seeking intervention
The 36 MPs from various parties sought an urgent meeting with Dominic Raab and an update on representations the foreign office may have made on the issue, including during the recent visit to London of Harsh Vardhan Shringla
Updated on Dec 05, 2020 07:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
More lawmakers faced human rights violations in 2020: IPU
No such violation was reported from India during the year, the IPU it said in its annual report ahead of the Human Rights Day on December 10. Its committee on human rights of parliaments examined 552 cases against MPs in 42 countries; compared to 533 in 2019
Updated on Dec 05, 2020 07:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Covid-19: No UK quarantine for business activity from today
From 4am on Saturday, individuals undertaking specific business activity that would deliver a significant benefit to the economy - including activity that creates or preserves more than 50 UK jobs - will no longer need to self-isolate when travelling or returning from non-exempt countries
Updated on Dec 05, 2020 05:09 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
36 British MPs back farmers’ protest, want UK to raise issue with India
A letter written to British Foreign Secretary by these MPs alleges that the farm laws enacted in India fail to protect farmers from exploitation and ensure fair prices for their produce.
Updated on Dec 05, 2020 12:35 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Maharashtra zilla parishad educator first in India to win $1-million teacher prize
Ranjitsinh Disale will donate 50% of his prize money to the other finalists who were nominated for the award, so that children across the globe get quality education
Updated on Dec 04, 2020 11:32 AM IST
Mumbai/London | Ankita Bhatkhande and Prasun Sonwalkar
Indian teacher Ranjitsinh Disale wins $1 million global prize, shares half with other finalists
Varkey Foundation, which has promoted the prize since 2014, said Disale has transformed the lives of girls at the Zilla Parishad Primary School in Maharashtra’s Paritewadi village
Updated on Dec 04, 2020 10:32 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Covid-19: Don’t get carried away, it’s not over, warns UK PM Boris Johnson
Johnson hailed the achievement of scientists as the UK regulator approved the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday
Published on Dec 03, 2020 07:05 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Covid-19: Tony Blair’s think tank urges need for ‘digital health passports’
The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change said the ultimate goal of an effective vaccine programme should be to enable people to live safely and freely alongside the coronavirus
Published on Dec 03, 2020 05:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK approves Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine; roll-out from next week
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the development as “fantastic” while a “thrilled” health secretary Matt Hancock reiterated his belief that normalcy would return by April
Published on Dec 02, 2020 05:27 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK first to approve Covid-19 vaccine; roll-out next week
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with 95% efficacy needs to be initially refrigerated at a temperature of minus 70 to 80 degrees Celsius, and administered in two doses, 21 days apart
Updated on Dec 02, 2020 07:02 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Nirav Modi’s UK jail remand extended again
The remand needs to be extended every 28 days, which means he will remain in the Wandsworth jail in west London at least until December 29, when it is likely to be extended again
Updated on Dec 01, 2020 05:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK was poorly prepared for Covid-19 pandemic, says Venki Ramakrishnan
Ramakrishnan, who won the Nobel for chemistry in 2009, was the first Indian-origin scientist elected president of the society in 2015
Updated on Dec 01, 2020 06:39 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Brexit from January 1: UK’s new points-based visa system opens
Under the new set-up, designed along the lines of Australia’s points system, points will be awarded for a job offer at the appropriate skill level, knowledge of English and for a minimum salary of £25,600 per year. Skilled worker visas will be awarded to those who gain enough points
Published on Dec 01, 2020 04:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Cambridge’s chemistry department named after Indian scientist Yusuf Hamied
Hamied, 84, who was a student at Christ’s College, has retained close links with Cambridge over the past 66 years, the university said
Updated on Dec 01, 2020 04:33 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
After ban on China’s Huawei, UK to diversify 5G suppliers
Britain had decided earlier this year to exclude high-risk vendors from those parts of the 5G and full-fibre networks that are critical to security and also from sensitive locations, and limit their presence in the periphery of those networks, capped at 35%
Published on Nov 30, 2020 05:29 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Renaming Southall road after Guru Nanak cleared
The name change will come into effect early in 2021 after some procedures are completed, but council officials said the announcement is a timely celebration ahead of Guru Nanak Jayanti on November 30.
Updated on Nov 29, 2020 09:50 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar, London
Sikh separatists, politicians in Canada, UK wade into farmers’ protest row
Pro-Khalistan separatist groups in Canada have also joined the chorus of opposition to the farm laws against which the protests are being held.
Updated on Nov 30, 2020 01:06 AM IST
Hindustan Times, Toronto | Anirudh Bhattacharyya and Prasun Sonwalkar, Toronto/london
Links with slavery? Welsh govt audit puts Mahatma Gandhi on a list of controversial individuals
The audit was commissioned in July by Labour’s Mark Drakeford, the first minister of Wales, following George Floyd’s controversial death in the US
Updated on Nov 29, 2020 04:40 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Let’s deepen ties in 2021: Boris Johnson tells Narendra Modi
A Downing Street spokesperson said the two prime ministers discussed joint efforts to find treatment and vaccines for Covid-19, and welcomed the collaboration between the two countries’ leading scientists
Published on Nov 27, 2020 10:36 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Covid-19: Death toll of UK Indians crosses 1,000
As of Thursday evening, 1,029 Indians had passed away in England’s hospitals and care homes, according to the National Health Service (NHS). The Indian ethnic group is followed by Pakistanis.
Updated on Nov 27, 2020 06:58 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Amid test data doubts, UK seeks temporary supply of AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine
The UK will be one of the first countries in the world to receive the vaccine, if authorised, with AstraZeneca expecting to have up to 4 million doses ready by the end of the year and 40mn by the end of March 2021.
Updated on Nov 27, 2020 06:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan