STAR TV

As the toll from Russia's invasion of Ukraine rises, the US says Beijing has a "duty to utilize leverage with Putin." President Joe Biden of the United States and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, have began their first direct conversations since November, amid mounting US concerns over Beijing's connection with Russia and stance on the increasingly violent war in Ukraine. The White House said Biden and Xi began conversing at 13:00 GMT on Friday, amid warnings from Washington that China may consider giving military assistance to Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said earlier in a briefing that Biden would use the call to "make plain that China will bear responsibility for any steps it takes to encourage Russia's aggressiveness," and that such acts would have "costs." "China, in particular, has a responsibility to utilize its clout with President Putin to protect the international standards and principles that it claims to uph

All remaining Covid travel restrictions for passengers entering the UK have now been abolished. Unvaccinated passengers will no longer be required to take tests as of 04:00 GMT (the rule had already been repealed for the vaccinated), and passenger locator forms will be phased out. It comes almost exactly two years after the UK implemented the first Covid lockout measures. Lifting the rules, according to travel executives, was the "ultimate game-changer." "Everything we've worked for - every jab, every test, and the sacrifices made by the entire country means that, finally, nearly two years later, we may all travel without bureaucratic constraints," Aviation Minister Robert Courts said. The move was scheduled to coincide with the Easter holidays, according to the government, but contingency measures have been made up to deal with any future Covid variants. Bookings have increased in recent months, according to Derek Jones, CEO of Kuoni, a tourism company. "T