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
New UK regulator to rein in Google, Facebook, other tech giants
Officials said online platforms bring huge benefits for businesses and society, but there is growing consensus in the UK and abroad that the concentration of power within a small number of tech companies is curtailing growth in the tech sector, reducing innovation, and potentially having negative impacts on the people and businesses that rely on them.
Updated on Nov 27, 2020 05:18 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Covid-19 hit UK immigration, but Indians among top to get visas
The Home Office said the pandemic has had a “significant impact” on the immigration system, both in terms of restricting migrant movements to and from the UK, and the impact on operational capacity
Updated on Nov 26, 2020 11:14 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
New counter-terror centre set up in Britain
The centre was developed following the series of attacks in 2017 which killed 36 people and caused injury and life-changing impacts to many others.
Updated on Nov 26, 2020 06:51 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Drones, micro-chillers may be needed for last-mile delivery of Covid vaccines
It is estimated that nearly 3 billion of the world’s 7.8 billion people live in areas that lack temperature-controlled storage to deliver the vaccines..
Updated on Nov 25, 2020 06:47 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Scotland Yard award for Brinder Deol, a Punjab-origin constable
A ceremony, held virtually, recognised the work of police personnel across London, including daring rescues, securing conviction in rape cases and investigating the Salisbury Novichok poisonings
Updated on Nov 25, 2020 12:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Scotland-Gujarat universities pact on new India climate research
Two universities in Scotland – St Andrews and Aberdeen – have joined the Ahmedabad University to investigate new approaches to the management of coastal wetland habitats in India following research funding from the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE).
Published on Nov 24, 2020 05:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK cuts quarantine for international arrivals to 5 days from Dec 15
The test will need to be booked at the traveller’s expense from an approved list of providers. Those choosing not to take a test when arriving from a non-exempt country must continue to follow the current self-isolation requirements of 14 days.
Updated on Nov 24, 2020 04:01 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Cambridge launches appeal for missing Darwin notebooks
Following an exhaustive search, the library curators concluded that the priceless notebooks, first listed as missing in January 2001, have likely been stolen, the university said in an appeal on its website
Updated on Nov 25, 2020 03:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Covid-19: Boost for India as Oxford vaccine candidate shot up to 90% successful
The makers of the vaccine will now approach regulators with the full data from the trial to seek an emergency use licence, which will allow for it to be given to people who need it at the earliest: health care workers at the frontlines of the pandemic and people vulnerable to serious illness.
Updated on Nov 24, 2020 01:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | Prasun Sonwalkar and Rhythma Kaul, New Delhi
For the first time, can see route out of Covid-19 pandemic: UK PM Boris Johnson
Outlining post-lockdown measures to come into effect from December 3, PM Johnson told the House of Commons virtually that developments in vaccines mean the “scientific cavalry is now in sight”
Updated on Nov 23, 2020 11:57 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Zoombombing, superspreader, WFH: Covid makes Oxford Dictionary expand word of year
The list of words include unmute, WFH, lockdown, superspreader, Zoombombing (on the lines of photobombing), remotely, pandemic, on the frontline, mask-shaming, social distancing, physical distancing, circuit-breaker, support bubbles, keyworkers, furlough’.
Updated on Nov 23, 2020 09:05 PM IST
Hindustan Tiimes, London | Prasun Sonwalkar | Edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UK foreign policy needs a tilt towards Indo-Pacific: Report
Think tank panel report suggests UK should consider creating a Special Envoy for the Indo-Pacific as a political appointment based in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Updated on Nov 23, 2020 07:37 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
UK regulator begins assessing Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine data
Since the UK continues to be a member of the EU until the end of the Brexit transition period on December 31, Covid-19 vaccine candidates can be licensed via the Amsterdam-based European Medicines Agency and that authorisation will automatically be valid in the UK.
Updated on Nov 23, 2020 07:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
‘Highly effective’ Oxford vaccine raises hopes of normal life from April
The analysis of its data from the trial in the UK and Brazil said the AZD1222 vaccine is highly effective in preventing Covid-19, with no hospitalisations or severe cases reported in participants receiving the vaccine.
Updated on Nov 23, 2020 06:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Covid-19: Prepare for economic shock, warns Rishi Sunak
Besides the debilitating economic impact of Covid-19, the UK also faces a hit from January 1, when the Brexit process is completed and the UK moves out of the EU.
Updated on Nov 22, 2020 08:59 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
China used Covid-19 for strategic gains in Indo-Pacific: Think-tank
China’s increasingly active drive and India’s rivalry with Pakistan will continue to dominate the regional security environment when the pandemic dies down, said a report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Published on Nov 21, 2020 09:25 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
Douglas Stuart’s Shuggie Bain wins Booker for fiction
Stuart dedicated his book, which was turned down by 32 publishers before being picked up, to his mother, who died when he was 16.
Published on Nov 21, 2020 07:20 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK: Indian-origin student wins Queen’s Commonwealth Essay contest
Aditya Choudhury, a 14-year-old student from Singapore, and 16-year-old Ananya Mukerji from India were on Friday declared the senior winner and runner-up of the 2020 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition
Updated on Nov 21, 2020 01:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK secures early access to 355 million doses of prospective Covid-19 vaccines
Health secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday that recent news from the Pfizer and Oxford trials was promising
Published on Nov 21, 2020 12:26 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK bullying row: Prime Minister Boris Johnson stands by home secretary Priti Patel
Alex Allan, the UK government’s standards adviser, resigned soon after Johnson stood by Patel, prompting another political row, days after Downing Street witnessed the resignations of two top advisers that were seen as the prime minister resetting his office
Updated on Nov 21, 2020 12:24 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Indian-origin student wins Queen’s Commonwealth Essay contest 2020
Aditya Choudhury, a 14-year-old student from Singapore and 16-year-old Ananya Mukerji from India were on Friday declared the senior winner and runner-up of the 2020 Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world’s oldest such contest launched in 1883.
Updated on Nov 20, 2020 06:55 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Douglas Stuart wins 2020 Booker Prize; Avni Doshi misses out
Stuart, 44, who won the £50,000 prize after being announced the winner by chair of the judges Margaret Busby, delivered an acceptance speech and received a trophy, a designer-bound edition of his book and a further £2,500 for being shortlisted.
Updated on Nov 20, 2020 04:57 AM IST
London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Boris Johnson’s £16.5 billion push ramps up UK’s offensive cyber capabilities
Releasing details of the cyber push, officials said the UK has been a world-leader on offensive cyber operations, with intelligence agency GCHQ pioneering the use and development of cyber techniques.
Published on Nov 20, 2020 04:03 AM IST
London | Prasun Sonwalkar
27-month jail term for Indian-origin builder in UK
Vijay Madhaparia, a London-based builder, has been jailed after falsifying documents from UK tax authorities and also banned from running limited companies for 10 years
Updated on Nov 20, 2020 12:11 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Cyber and space domains focus of £16.5 billion UK defence push
The UK government on Thursday announced the establishment of a National Cyber Force manned with intelligence and military personnel as part of a £16.5 billion push in the defence sector as the country prepares for life out of the EU from January 1, 2021
Published on Nov 19, 2020 07:31 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine safe in older adults, induces immune response: Lancet
The Phase 2 trial of the Oxford vaccine has been found to be safe in healthy older adults and induces immune response, The Lancet reported on Thursday
Published on Nov 19, 2020 07:10 PM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in UK from 2030
Outlining his 10-point plan for a “UK Green Industrial Revolution,” British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that GBP 582 million has been allocated as grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to make them cheaper to buy and incentivise more people to make the transition.
Published on Nov 19, 2020 04:34 AM IST
London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Indian AI company wins at UK-US military space pitch
The winners of same-day contracts worth up to £53,000 ($66,000) were announced on Tuesday after pitches were made directly to UK, US and Nato military leaders. The Indian company is 114 AI Innovation LLP, whose pitch titled “Spacewise” was selected for funding
Updated on Nov 19, 2020 12:16 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
Covid-19 pandemic: Ventilate, open windows to cut risk, advises UK government
The Boris Johnson government on Wednesday released a new film based on research that shows ventilation and letting in fresh air into indoor spaces can reduce risk of infection from the coronavirus by over 70%
Updated on Nov 19, 2020 12:21 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar
UK announces ban on sale of petrol, diesel cars by 2030
Outlining his 10-point plan for a ‘UK Green Industrial Revolution’, PM Boris Johnson said £582 million has been allocated as grants for those buying zero or ultra-low emission vehicles to make them cheaper to buy and incentivise more people to make the transition.
Updated on Nov 18, 2020 06:34 AM IST
Hindustan Times, London | Prasun Sonwalkar