Page 14 - Britain

UK's National Health Service owes so much to Indian diaspora: British min

Britain's National Health Service (NHS) owes so much to the Indian diaspora and it is the partnership with India which will help the UK meet the challenges of modernising the country's healthcare system for the future, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said. As a keynote speaker at India Global Forum's (IGF) annual Diwali celebration in London on Wednesday evening, Streeting drew upon the spirit of the Festival of Lights to express optimism towards the enormous reform agenda ahead for his department. If I think about the way in which the NHS has been shaped in the last 76 years, we owe so much to the Indian diaspora here in Britain, said Streeting. It was the generation that helped to build the NHS in 1948 and today we see the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren shaping its future. When we see such enormous challenges in our health and care service, when we look out to a very fragile and unstable world, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenge and beaten by

Lloyds confidence grows, rising house prices as Q3 profit beats forecasts

Britain's growth prospects and public finances meanwhile remain frail

Britain and Germany to sign defence pact to counter Russia's growing threat

German submarine-hunting planes will patrol the North Atlantic from a base in Scotland under a new Britain-Germany defense pact in response to the growing threat from Russia, officials said. Defense ministers from Britain and Germany will sign the agreement in London on Wednesday in what officials call the first such defense pact between the two countries to boost European security amid rising Russian aggression. The UK and Germany are moving closer together. With projects across the air, land, sea, and cyber domains, we will jointly increase our defence capabilities, thereby strengthening the European pillar within NATO, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement ahead of signing the deal. It is particularly important to me that we cooperate even more closely to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and to close critical capability gaps, for instance in the field of long-range strike weapons, he added. Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February ...

Britain to contribute $2.9 billion to G7 loan for Ukraine's weapon purchase

The European Union, where the bulk of the Russian assets are blocked, has already agreed to provide 35 billion euros ($38 billion) as part of the bloc's share

'Not my king': Indigenous Australian senator yells at visiting King Charles

An Indigenous senator told King Charles III that Australia is not his land as the British royal visited Australia's parliament on Monday. Sen. Lidia Thorpe was escorted out of a parliamentary reception for the royal couple after shouting that British colonisers have taken Indigenous land and bones. You committed genocide against our people," she shouted. Give us what you stole from us our bones, our skulls, our babies, our people. You destroyed our land. Give us a treaty. We want a treaty. No treaty was ever struck between between British colonisers and Australia's Indigenous peoples. Charles spoke quietly with Albanese while security officials stopped Thorpe from approaching. This is not your land. You are not my king, Thorpe yelled as she was ushered from the hall. Thorpe is renowned for high-profile protest action. When she was affirmed as a senator in 2022, she wasn't allowed to describe the then-monarch as the colonising Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. She briefly blocked

PM Modi has very clear plan for India's future: Britain's ex-PM Cameron

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a very clear plan about technology and the future of India and his third consecutive term in office demonstrates the ability to bring real change in a consistent way. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Cameron said it was very important to have a clear plan for driving economic growth, improving infrastructure and the future of the country. "What you find in politics, when you become prime minister everything hits you at a million miles an hour. If you don't have a very clear plan about what you want to do, you get endlessly distracted by the short term problems and difficulties," he said. Earlier, at the Summit, Prime Minister Modi shared his vision for a developed India by 2047 and listed the achievements of his government in the first 125 days of his third term. "It was great to hear Prime Minister Modi's speech. To have that energy level at the start of your third term is truly impressiv

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