Page 11 - Britain

We want partnerships, not just investments: MP CM Yadav on UK-Germany visit

CM Yadav is on a six-day visit to the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany, starting Monday, with the focus on enhancing investment opportunities in Madhya Pradesh

FTA talks with India to relaunch early 2025: UK PM Starmer tells Parliament

The Free Trade Agreement negotiations with India -- expected to significantly boost the estimated GBP 42-billion a year bilateral trade partnership -- will be relaunched early in the new year, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has informed the UK Parliament here. It came during his statement to update the House of Commons on Thursday about his G20 Summit visit to Brazil, where he said he had a good discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other world leaders. The meeting earlier this week had led to both countries agreeing to resume the election-stalled Free Trade Agreement (FTA) talks. I had a good discussion with Prime Minister Modi about deepening our bilateral ties, Starmer told the members of Parliament. We agreed to raise the ambition of our UK-India comprehensive strategic partnership, which covers security, defence, technology, climate, health and education, building on the unique bonds and cultural ties between our two countries. Crucially, this work will start with t

HSBC stops processing all Russia, Belarus payments for retail customers

A message sent from the bank to its personal banking customers and seen by Reuters said the lender has 'made the decision to stop processing payments' from the two countries

UK retail sales plunged more than expected before new govt's budget: ONS

A monthly rise in sales in September was also revised down to 0.1 per cent from a previous estimate of a 0.3 per cent gain

HSBC relaunches 'Premier' brand in UK in pursuit of wealthy customers

HSBC aims to double assets under management in its British wealth business to 100 billion pounds

India, UK to relaunch FTA talks in 2025, 'address remaining issues'

Announcement follows first meeting between Prime Minister Modi and his British counterpart during G-20 summit in Brazil

UK farmers to protest tax hike, say it could devastate family-run farms

With banners, bullhorns, toy tractors and an angry message, British farmers are descending on Parliament on Tuesday to protest a hike in inheritance tax that they say will deal a hammer blow to struggling family farms. UK farmers are rarely as militant as their European neighbours, and Britain has not seen large-scale protests like those that have snarled cities in France and other European countries. Now, though, farmers say they will step up their action if the government doesn't listen. Everyone's mad, said Olly Harrison, co-organiser of a protest that aims to flood the street outside Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office with farmers. He said many famers want to take to the streets and block roads and go full French. Organisers have urged protesters not to bring farm machinery into central London on Tuesday. Instead, children on toy tractors will lead a march around Parliament Square after a rally addressed by speakers, including former Top Gear TV host and celebrity farmer Jerem

UK PM Starmer seeks India trade deal even Sunak couldn't pull off

The UK's trading relationship with India was worth £42 billion in the 12 months to June 2024

UK hits Iran with new sanctions for supplying ballistic missiles to Russia

The U.K. government hit Iran with new sanctions Monday for sending ballistic missiles and other weapons to Russia to support the war against Ukraine. The Foreign Office said it will freeze assets for Iran's national airline and its state-owned shipping company that helped transfer weapons. It will also sanction the Russian cargo ship Port Olya-3 that delivered the missiles from Iran. Iran's attempts to undermine global security are dangerous and unacceptable," Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a statement in advance of announcing the sanctions at the U.N. Security Council. Alongside our international partners, we were clear that any transfer of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia would face a significant response." The announcement comes on the eve of the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine and the day after U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use missiles supplied by Washington to strike deeper inside Russia. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the G20 summit in ..

India vital partner, UK committed to foster deeper collab: British minister

The UK is committed to foster deeper cooperation with India as it is a "vital" partner and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, British Minister for Indo-Pacific Catherine West said on Monday as she embarked on a two-day visit to the country. West will continue to unlock the full potential of the UK-India partnership and drive forward greater growth for both countries building upon the ambitions set out by Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his visit to New Delhi in July, a British government readout said. She will also reiterate that the UK remains committed to negotiating a mutually beneficial free trade agreement and bilateral investment treaty, it added. "I am delighted to be visiting India for the first time as Minister for the Indo-Pacific," West said. "As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, India is a vital partner," she said. Minister West's visit will include a meeting at the Ministry of External Affairs where she will reinforce the UK's ...

UK plans to create pension megafunds to unlock $100 bn for investment

British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves said Thursday the government planned to merge dozens of pension funds with the aim of unlocking tens of billions of pounds for investment and boosting the UK's subpar economic growth. Reeves said in her speech to finance leaders in central London that the creation of so-called megafunds will represent the biggest pension reform in decades. In her first so-called Mansion House speech, an annual ritual for British chancellors of the exchequer, Reeves said the changes could help unlock 80 billion pounds (USD 100 billion) for investment. Pension funds invest in a variety of assets, such as shares, bonds, real estate and infrastructure, in an attempt to increase the retirement benefits for their members. The proposed merger of 86 local authority pension funds in England and Wales has echoes in Australia and Canada, where pension funds are widely seen to have taken advantage of their bigger size to invest in assets and boost growth. By 2030, the new ..

Unilever eyes sale of Dutch brands Unox, Conimex in turnaround strategy

Unilever has lined up ABN Amro to conduct a sale of some of the Dutch food brands, including Unox soups and Conimex seasonings

Four cases of new mpox variant identified in UK, first time outside Africa

British health officials say they have identified four cases of the new, more infectious version of mpox that first emerged in Congo, marking the first time the variant has caused a cluster of illness outside of Africa. Scientists said the risk to the public remains low. Authorities announced the first case of the new form of mpox in the UK last week, saying the case was being treated at a London hospital after recently travelling to countries in Africa with ongoing outbreaks. This week, the UK Health Security Agency said it had now identified three further cases who lived in the same household as the first patient. They too are now being treated at a hospital in London. Mpox is very infectious in households with close contact and so it is not unexpected to see further cases within the same household, said Susan Hopkins, chief medical advisor of the UK Health Security Agency. The new variant of mpox was first detected earlier this year in eastern Congo. Scientists believe it causes

Taiwan and Britain hold fresh trade talks on green energy, investment

In November last year, Taiwan and Britain signed an Enhanced Trade Partnership Arrangement that Taipei hopes will further boost its case to join a major pan-Pacific free trade pact and bolster

Harry & Meghan's Colombia tour sparks outrage over Rs 16.3 cr security bill

The tour was widely viewed as an attempt to mirror an official royal visit, raising questions given the couple's decision to step back from royal duties over four years ago

Biodiversity policies should include behavioural changes, say researchers

About 90 per cent of the current national biodiversity policies fail to specify behavioural changes expected of an individual or a group, such as farmers, consumers and fishers, a finding that researchers said could explain the lack of progress on meeting conservation targets. A total of 1306 policy actions proposed by ten National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) from all world regions were coded for target actors, target behaviour and responsible agents as well as the policy options. The team, including researchers from the University of Surrey, UK, found that only 11 per cent of national biodiversity policies explicitly addressed the critical role of behavioural changes expected of individuals to meaningfully deliver on biodiversity conservation. "Unfortunately, we have collectively developed a major blind spot in biodiversity policies. There's a heavy focus on grand actions such as resource management, but little attention is paid to the everyday behaviours -- .

Singapore slams 'smear campaign' from ex-PM Lee Hsien Loong's brother

The escalating war of words between the city's government and Hsien Yang stems from a bitter, yearslong family feud

UK Treasury chief Reeves unveils budget with 40 billion pounds in tax hikes

British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves is announcing 40 billion pounds in tax hikes in her first budget, saying she will use the money to invest, invest, invest and get the economy growing. Reeves is delivering the first budget from the UK's Labour Party government since it took power in July. She says the tax increases are needed because of the economic black hole left by the previous Conservative government. She told lawmakers, I am restoring stability to our public finances and rebuilding our public services. The centre-left party was elected July 4 after promising to banish years of turmoil and scandal under Conservative governments, get Britain's economy growing and restore frayed public services.

King Charles visits medical facility in Bengaluru for treatment: Report

Britain's King Charles paid a private visit to Bengaluru for wellness treatment at a sprawling integrative medical facility here, sources said on Wednesday. Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he stayed at the holistic health centre, known for rejuvenative treatment, including yoga and meditation sessions and therapies, near Whitefield here, an official said. This was not the King's first visit to the 'SOUKYA', International Holistic Centre at Samethanahalli. He celebrated his 71st birthday here in 2019. It is run by Dr Issac Mathai, who is among the few individuals from India invited to attend his coronation as the UK's King on May 6 last year. "The couple underwent therapeutic yoga, enjoyed a strictly vegetarian diet with eggs. They underwent rejuvenative treatment, which also included meditation and therapies," an official at the facility said. "The King received wellness treatment, including Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Naturopathy." It was like a typical day for them just like for any .

BAE Systems shipyard fire: There is no nuclear risk, say UK police

Two people have been hospitalised after a fire broke out at the shipyard that builds Britain's nuclear-powered submarines, but there is no nuclear risk, police said Wednesday. Cumbria Constabulary said a significant fire broke out soon after midnight at the BAE Systems shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, northwest England. Video shared on social media overnight showed flames shooting out from the Devonshire Dock Hall building while alarms blared. When I opened the front door, we just saw a lot of black smoke," said Donna Butler, who lives next to the shipyard. It was a lot of black smoke, like really thick black smoke, and it was very loud. The force said two people were taken to hospitals with suspected smoke inhalation and there were no other casualties. It advised people living nearby to stay indoors and keep doors and windows closed. The 150-year-old shipyard, about 350 kilometres northwest of London, is currently building several nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Navy. It i