Page 13 - Britain

Zumba teacher? 'Anti-woke' cleric? 38 candidates line up to head Oxford

For the first time, voters will cast ballots online. About 26,000 alumni of Oxford have registered to vote, with an additional 5,000 faculty and senior staff also eligible

UK Foreign Secretary Lammy urges China against supporting Russian army

Britain's foreign secretary raised concerns about China's support of Russia in its war against Ukraine on Friday, urging his Chinese counterpart to prevent Chinese firms from supplying to Russia's military in a meeting in Beijing. David Lammy made the comments as he made his first visit by a Cabinet minister to China since the Labour government took control in July. He met Friday with Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang and held talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi later the same day. The two-day trip is an attempt to reset ties with Beijing after relations turned frosty in recent years over spying allegations, China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war and a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, a former British colony. While Britain's government stressed that engagement with China was pragmatic and necessary," officials said Lammy raised thorny issues including Russia and human rights concerns in Hong Kong and China's far-western Xinjiang province. Lammy stated how both the U.K. an

One Direction singer Liam Payne dies after fall from Buenos Aires hotel

Former One Direction member Liam Payne passed away on Wednesday at the age of 31. Emergency workers also confirmed the death of the British Singer

Liam Payne, former One Direction member, dies at 31 in Argentina hotel fall

Former One Direction singer Liam Payne, 31, whose chart-topping British boy band generated a global following of swooning fans, was found dead Wednesday after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, local officials said. Buenos Aires police said in a statement that Payne fell from the third floor of the Casa Sur Hotel in the trendy Palermo neighborhood of Argentina's capital, resulting in extremely serious injuries. Medics confirmed his death on the spot, the statement said. Pablo Policicchio, the communications director for the Buenos Aires Security Ministry, said in a statement to The Associated Press that Payne had jumped from the balcony of his room. Police rushed to the hotel in response to an emergency call just after 5 pm local time, he said, warning of an aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The hotel manager can be heard on a 911 call obtained by the AP saying they had "a guest who is overwhelmed with drugs and alcohol ... He's destroy

British inflation sends pound below $1.30, dollar firm on Fed outlook

The pound dropped to as low as $1.2984, dipping under the $1.30 level for the first time since Aug. 20, after data showing the rate of annual consumer price inflation dropped to 1.7 per cent in Sep

India's cooperation correct next step: UK on diplomatic row with Canada

The government of India's cooperation with Canada's legal process is the right next step over the serious developments, the UK said on Wednesday with reference to the ongoing India-Canada diplomatic row. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), in a statement here, said that it remains in contact with Canadian partners over the ongoing Canadian investigation linked to the government of India and expressed confidence in Ottawa's judicial system. The statement follows India expelling six Canadian diplomats and withdrawing its High Commissioner in Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, earlier this week terming Canada's allegations as preposterous and part of a political agenda centred on vote-bank politics. The FCDO statement comes two days after Prime Minister Keir Starmer received a call from his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on Monday. The UK and Canada are part of an intelligence alliance named 'Five Eyes', also comprising Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

Trudeau speaks with UK counterpart Starmer amid India-Canada tensions

Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Starmer agreed to remain in close and regular contact

King Charles III set to visit Australia, Samoa amidst battle with cancer

King Charles III, who is 75 and battling cancer, will travel halfway around the world to Samoa this month to take his seat as the head of the Commonwealth and highlight the existential threat that climate change poses for Pacific island nations. He will also return to Australia, a country that played a key role in Charles' adolescence giving him the chance to be an almost normal teenager during the six months he spent at Timbertop school outside Melbourne in the 1960s. The visit marks the first time since he assumed the throne that Charles will visit one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the monarch is head of state. The tour, from Friday to Oct. 26, is a watershed moment for Charles, who is slowly returning to public duties after a hiatus following his cancer diagnosis in early February. The decision to undertake such a long journey is seen as a reflection of his workaholic tendencies and his wish to put his stamp on the monarchy after waiting some seven decades

CM Bhajanlal to visit Germany, UK to promote investment opportunities

During his visit, he aims to engage with various industrialists and invite them to the 'Rising Rajasthan' Global Investment Summit, scheduled to take place from December 9-11 in Jaipur

UK property market strengthens, pressure on renters intensifies: RICS

Tarrant Parsons, RICS' head of market analytics, said the reduction in borrowing costs in August had helped to recover buyer demand

UK auction house pulls Naga 'Human Skull' from online sale after outcry

A UK auction house has withdrawn a Naga Human Skull' from its lots for a live online sale on Wednesday following outcry in India over the issue. The Swan auction house at Tetsworth in Oxfordshire had a series of skulls and other remains originating from around the world as part of The Curious Collector Sale, Antiquarian Books, Manuscripts & Paintings. The 19th Century Horned Naga Human Skull, Naga Tribe' was slotted as Lot No. 64 and resulted in protests in Nagaland, led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who sought the intervention of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to stop the hurtful sale. The news of the proposed auction of Naga human remains in the UK has been received by all sections in a negative manner as it is a highly emotional and sacred issue for our people. It has been a traditional custom of our people to give the highest respect and honour for the remains of the demised, said Rio in his letter. He urged the minister to take up the matter with the High Commission ..

British Foreign Secretary Lammy likely to visit China in bid to reset ties

Lammy, who has vowed to overhaul Britain's ties with China, will meet Chinese officials in Beijing and representatives of British firms in Shanghai

Following internal complaints in administration, Starmer replaces top aide

In an attempt to end the turbulence engulfing Britain's first Labour administration in 14 years, the prime minister on Sunday moved his chief of staff Sue Gray out of her role

British PM Starmer's chief of staff resigns over reports about salary

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role risked becoming a distraction to the government. Sue Gray's resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and Starmer's chief adviser Morgan McSweeney, and that she was earning more than the prime minister. The BBC has reported that Gray's annual salary was 170,000 pounds ($223,000), about 3,000 pounds more than Starmer is paid. Gray said she accepted a new role as Starmer's envoy for the regions and nations. McSweeney will replace her as chief of staff at Downing Street. Throughout my career, my first interest has always been public service, Gray said in a statement. However, in recent weeks it has become clear to me that intense commentary around my position risked becoming a distraction to the government's vital work of change." Gray, a former senior civil servant, became a household name in Britain in 2022, when she led investigations

Jugnauth thanks PM Modi after UK announces to hand over Chagos Islands

Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on Friday thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for completing our decolonisation a day after the UK government announced to hand over sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to the country. Jugnauth took to X to thank Modi as he wrote, Mauritius thanks the African Union @AfricanUnion, the Government of India @narendramodi and all friendly countries which have supported us in our fight for completing our decolonisation. The UK on Thursday announced a historic agreement that will see Britain hand over sovereignty of the remote Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean to Mauritius while it retains the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia. The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) status of the disputed archipelago, made up of around 60 islands, has been in contention for many years and negotiations over its future began under the previous Conservative Party government in 2022. British Prime Minister Keir Starm

British auto industry set to miss 2024 EV sales target, warns trade body

Britain's ZEV mandate, introduced by the former Conservative government, requires at least 22 per cent of an automaker's new car sales to be purely EVs in 2024

Following freebies row, UK's PM Starmer pays back $8K worth of gifts

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday it is right that he has paid back more than 6,000 pounds (USD 8,000) worth of gifts and hospitality, following a row over freebies. For weeks, Starmer has faced criticism over the scale of the donations, which included clothes, eyeglasses and tickets to his beloved soccer team Arsenal, that he received over recent years. During the last parliamentary term from 2019 to 2024, Starmer received around 100,000 pounds worth of donations, substantially more than any other member of parliament. Though the donations were legal and properly filed with officials in the UK Parliament, the row has dented Starmer's popularity ratings. According to officials at his 10 Downing Street offices, Starmer has covered the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets at London's Wembley Stadium, four to a horse racing event and a clothing rental agreement with a high-end designer favoured by his wife, Victoria Starmer. We are now going to bring forward principles fo

UK PM Starmer to meet sceptical investors in attempts to woo them

Years of Brexit-linked political chaos may have ended with his Labour Party's big election win, but the near-collapse of utility Thames Water has unsettled investors

UK economy grew more slowly than thought but outlook is improving

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party won power in July, is seeking to speed up economic growth

Labour Party members deal blow to Starmer day after his appeal for unity

Members of Britain's governing Labour Party dealt Prime Minister Keir Starmer a blow on Wednesday, rejecting his decision to cut payments that offset winter heating costs for millions of retirees. The vote on the final day of Labour's annual conference is not binding, but it's a setback to Starmer's efforts to unite his centre-left party around the contentious measure. Since winning office in July, Starmer has cautioned that the dire state of the public finances inherited from the last Conservative government means he must make hard choices such as ending the winter fuel allowance, worth between 200 and 300 pounds (USD 262 and USD 393), for all but the poorest pensioners. Trade unions that are among Labour's funders and allies organised resistance to the cut at the conference in Liverpool, northwest England. They forced a vote on a demand for the decision to be reversed. It was narrowly passed in a show-of-hands vote amid cheers and jeers in the conference hall. I do not understand