Page 37 - Britain

India remains top nationality granted worker visas: British High Commission

In October, British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis had said that they were on track to get back to processing India-to-UK visa application within standard 15 of days

Indian group urges UK to remove overseas students from migration stats

An Indian diaspora-led students' organisation on Friday urged the UK government to remove international students from the country's overall immigration statistics amid unconfirmed reports that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may be considering a crackdown on foreigners granted study visas. According to some UK media reports, Sunak is mulling a crackdown on foreign students bringing dependents and studying so-called low-quality degrees at mediocre UK universities after the country's net migration figures hit record levels. Downing Street has indicated that all options to bring overall migrant numbers down are on the table. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union (NISAU) UK, which campaigns for streamlined provisions for Indian students studying in the UK, said any move to arbitrarily rank universities would prove counterproductive in the long run. Students who are in the UK temporarily, should not be counted as migrants, said NISAU UK Chair Sanam Arora. International students, of .

UK starting to have second thoughts about Brexit as economy faces recession

More than six years after voting to leave the European Union, the UK is facing a prolonged recession and a deep cost-of-living crisis

UK backs India, Germany, Japan, Brazil as permanent members of UNSC

The UK has voiced support for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil to sit as permanent members in an expanded UN Security Council. Speaking during the General Assembly debate on Security Council reform on Thursday, UK Ambassador Barbara Woodward said that the United Kingdom has long called for the expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories. Our position is well known. The United Kingdom has long called for the expansion of the Security Council in both the permanent and non-permanent categories, Woodward said. We support the creation of new permanent seats for India, Germany, Japan and Brazil, as well as permanent African representation on the Council. We also support an expansion of the non-permanent category of membership, taking the Security Council's total membership to somewhere in the mid-twenties, she said. Woodward said with these changes, the Council would be more representative of the world today. And, coupled with a renewed commitmen

Britain is in recession, Hunt makes it official; windfall tax hiked to 35%

The tax burden would hit 37.1 per cent of GDP, its highest sustained level since World War Two

UK govt increases windfall tax on profits of oil, natural gas companies

Britain's Treasury chief says he's increasing the windfall tax on the profits of oil and natural gas companies as he announced an emergency budget aimed at restoring the nation's economic credibility and patching up its battered finances. Jeremy Hunt said Thursday that the windfall tax will rise from 25% to 35% from January 2024 to March 2028 and that electricity generators will have to pay a new temporary levy of 45%. He said the taxes combined would raise 14 billion pounds next year. Energy companies such as London-based BP and Shell have reported huge profits in recent months as Russia's war in Ukraine pushes up energy prices worldwide. Britain's government has faced pressure to increase taxes on oil and gas companies to help fund support for millions of Britons struggling to cope with soaring energy prices. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a former Treasury chief, introduced a 25% energy profits levy earlier this year but that was limited to profits made from extracting U.K. oil an

King Charles III gives sister Anne, brother Edward deputy roles

King Charles III has personally asked the UK Parliament to add his siblings, Princess Anne the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward the Earl of Wessex, to the list of people who can act as his deputies for official royal duties. Charles issued a statement on Monday, as he celebrated his 74th birthday, which was read to the House of Lords to state he would be "most content" if his sister and brother could become Counsellors of State effectively the monarch's stand-ins at events. This will mean amending the UK's Regency Act, which at present stipulates that Counsellors are the spouse of the monarch plus the next four royals in succession to the throne, who are over the age of 21. The Counsellors are made up of King Charles' wife Camilla the Queen Consort, and Prince William the Prince of Wales. Two other senior royals are no longer working royals after the King's younger son Prince Harry the Duke of Sussex, stepped back from frontline royalty and younger brother Prince Andrew th

UK economy shrinks, forecasters warn of many months of contraction to come

Britain's economy shrank in the three months to September, official statistics said on Friday, as forecasters warned of many months of contraction to come. The Office for National Statistics said gross domestic product fell by 0.2 per cent between July and September, a smaller-than-expected contraction that nevertheless is seen to signal the start of a long recession. GDP shrank by 0.6 per cent in September, and by 0.1 per cent in August, the statistics office said. It said a decline in manufacturing output and an extra holiday to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II, which contributed to a notable fall in retail, were behind the decline. It said the UK economy is now 0.2 per cent smaller than in February 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down big chunks of the economy for months. Britain's economy, like that of many other countries, is struggling as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has driven up food and energy costs, pushing consumer price inflation to 40-year highs. The

Best of BS Opinion: Another lotus blooms, a fresh beginning and more

Here are the best of Business Standard's opinion pieces for today

Aus to stop ex-military pilots flying for China; Britain shares concern

Australia's defence minister said on Wednesday he had told the nation's military to review secrecy safeguards in response to concerns that Beijing was recruiting pilots to train the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Defence Minister Richard Marles ordered the review after asking the Defence Department last month to investigate reports that China had approached former Australian military personnel to become trainers. In the information that has now been provided to me by Defence, there are enough concerns in my mind that I have asked Defence to engage in a detailed examination about the policies and procedures that apply to our former Defence personnel, and particularly those who come into possession of our nation's secrets, Marles told reporters. Marles declined to say whether any Australian had provided military training to the Chinese. He said a joint police-intelligence service task force was investigating a number of cases among former service personnel. What we are focused on

UK PM Rishi Sunak under pressure as minister resigns amid bullying row

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was under pressure from the Opposition on Wednesday as he expressed regret on appointing one of his close allies and embattled ministers who was forced to resign pending an investigation into allegations of bullying against him. Sir Gavin Williamson is accused of abusive behaviour towards fellow Conservative Party colleagues and civil servants and denies any wrongdoing. However, after days of rows over what Sunak knew about the allegations before appointing him as a minister without portfolio to his Cabinet, Williamson stepped down on Tuesday night. The Opposition has branded the episode as a sign of "poor judgement and leadership" by Sunak and Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer used the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons to pile on further pressure over the issue. "I obviously regret it for the record, I did not know about any of the specific concerns," Sunak said, when asked by Starmer if he regrets appointing ...

Buckingham Palace unveils new monogram for Camilla the Queen Consort of UK

It will be used by Camilla on personal letterheads, cards and gifts, the Buckingham Palace said in a statement

UK court approves extradition of arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari to India

A UK court on Monday ruled that Sanjay Bhandari, an accused middleman and consultant in arms deals, can be extradited to India to face charges of tax evasion and money laundering. The 60-year-old faced two extradition requests from the Indian authorities, the first related to money laundering and the second to tax evasion. District Judge Michael Snow, who heard the case at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London earlier this year, concluded that there are no bars to him being extradited and decided to send the case to UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who is authorised to order the extradition based on the court order. As I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant's Convention rights, I must send this case to the Secretary of State [Braverman] for a decision as to whether the defendant is to be extradited, Judge Snow said in his judgment. However, I only do so on the basis of the Assurances that have been provided by the Government, he said, with reference

Uttar Pradesh plans to woo UK, France and Singapore for investor meet

Mauritius, Denmark, Mexico, and Thailand are also on the state's radar

UK's King Charles III sends special Diwali message to Hinduja Group

Britain's King Charles III has sent a special Diwali message to the Hindujas, highlighting his commitment to all faiths and communities. The message was delivered by his Principal Private Secretary Sir Clive Alderton at the Hinduja Diwali reception held at their Carlton House Terrace on Wednesday. More than 300 guests including peers, MPs, Ambassadors, diplomats, business leaders attended the event. Conservative Party chairman Nadhim Zahawi, MP, former Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Foreign Office Minister Lord Ahmad, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan were also present on the occasion. Welcoming the guests, Gopichand Hinduja, co-chairman of the Hinduja Group, spoke of the significance of Diwali and how real wealth comprises blessings and contentment earned through acts of giving. G P Hinduja fondly mentioned missing his elder brother S P Hinduja, who is unwell. His other two brothers Prakash and Ashok were present on the occasion. Arjun Rampal with his partner Gabriella, playback singer

Britain delays calling Northern Ireland election amid Brexit impasse

Northern Ireland's political deadlock deepened Friday when the UK government delayed calling an early election for the Belfast-based Assembly after a deadline to restore the mothballed administration expired. The limbo means more uncertainty and delays to government decision-making at a time when many people in Northern Ireland are struggling with soaring food and energy prices. A deadline for the Northern Ireland Assembly to elect a governing executive passed at midnight Thursday amid a dispute over post-Brexit trade rules. Under the rules of Northern Ireland's power-sharing politics, a new election must be held within 12 weeks. Civil servants will keep essential services running in the meantime. U.K. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris had been expected to announce a mid-December poll date. Instead, he said he was holding talks with the main political parties. I hear when parties say they really do not want an election at all, he said. But he added that under the ...

UK Treasury chief delays detailing new economic plans until Nov 17

UK Treasury Chief Jeremy Hunt has delayed a statement on the country's economic affairs until November 17, only a day after the new prime minister took office. Hunt told the BBC says that a two and half week delay will ensure the right decisions are taken. The statement was originally set to be announced on October 31. The Treasury says in a tweet that new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Hunt have agreed that the statement will include a forecast from the independent Office of Budget Responsibility. It will contain the UK's medium term fiscal plan to put public spending on a sustainable footing, get debt falling & restore stability," the Treasury said on Twitter.

Working towards best FTA with 'economic superpower' India: UK's Greg Hands

Describing India as an "economic superpower", Britain said on Wednesday that it was working towards the "best" Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that is beneficial to both the countries. India and Britain launched negotiations for the FTA in January with an aim to conclude talks by Diwali but the deadline was missed due to a lack of consensus on issues. "We have already closed the majority of Chapters and look forward to the next round of talks shortly," Secretary of State for International Trade Greg Hands said while replying to a question from Nick Thomas-Symonds, Shadow international trade secretary. A "strong FTA can strengthen the economic links between UK and India, boosting the UK economy by more than 3 billion pounds by 2035, helping families and communities," he said. He said that the FTA can cut red tapes, make it cheaper for UK companies to sell into India's dynamic market , helping drive growth and support jobs across every nation and region. Greater access could help UK ...

Have completed most of India trade deal, will only sign once happy: UK

Britain has completed majority of sections of a free trade agreement with India but will only sign off on the deal once happy that it is fair and reciprocal, trade department minister Greg Hands said

Bank of England likely to go for a bigger than 75-bp rate hike: Report

Rising borrowing costs are part of a cost of living crisis hammering consumer spending as Sunak becomes Britain's third PM in less than two months