Page 4 - Britain

India liquor stocks rally on UK trade deal, premium spirits focus

Shares of India's Tilaknagar Industries Ltd and Allied Blenders & Distillers Ltd have surged more than 40 per cent since late April

Trump's Scotland visit for golf course launch blurs politics, business ties

Lashed by cold winds and overlooking choppy, steel-gray North Sea waters, the breathtaking sand dunes of Scotland's northeastern coast rank among Donald Trump's favourite spots on earth. At some point, maybe in my very old age, I'll go there and do the most beautiful thing you've ever seen," Trump said in 2023, during his New York civil fraud trial, talking about his plans for future developments on his property in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. At 79 and back in the White House, Trump is making at least part of that pledge a reality, travelling to Scotland on Friday as his family's business prepares for the August 13 opening of a new course it is billing as the greatest 36 holes in golf." While there, Trump will talk trade with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a meeting he's said will take place at probably one of my properties. The Aberdeen area is already home to another of his courses, Trump International Scotland, and the president also plans to visit a Trump course near Turnber

PM Modi meets King Charles III in London, invites him to visit India

The Prime Minister expressed his happiness at the recovery of King Charles III's health and the resumption of his Royal duties

Tom Hayes Libor victory puts convictions in $10 billion scandal at risk

When star trader Tom Hayes was found guilty of rigging a benchmark interest rate in 2015, it set off a raft of other investigations of bankers and traders across the City of London

PM Modi begins 2-day visit to Britain; to witness signing of India-UK FTA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday kick-started his two-day visit to the UK to expand the bilateral ties in areas of defence, trade and technology, with the formalisation of the landmark India-UK free trade deal set to be a major outcome of his trip. The Prime Minister was received at the airport by UK Foreign Office Minister in charge of the Indo-Pacific Catherine West along with Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Dorsaiswami and British High Commissioner to New Delhi Lindy Cameron. Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with his British counterpart Keir Starmer on Thursday that is expected to focus on imparting a new momentum in the strategic ties between the two countries. Starmer is set to host Modi for the talks at Chequers, the official country residence of the British prime minister that is located 50 km northwest of London. Modi was greeted by cheering groups of community leaders, students and parliamentarians gathered in anticipation on the outskirts of London. Th

PM Modi leaves for UK, Maldives, says visit will boost bilateral ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday left on a four-day visit to the UK and the Maldives, expressing confidence that this will boost India's ties with the two countries. In his departure statement, Modi said India and the United Kingdom share a comprehensive strategic partnership that has witnessed significant progress in recent years. He noted that the collaboration between the two countries spans a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, technology, innovation, defence, education, research, sustainability, health and people-to-people ties. "During my meeting with Prime Minister Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer, we will have the opportunity to further enhance our economic partnership, aimed at fostering prosperity, growth and job creation in both countries," Modi said. The prime minister will also meet King Charles III during the visit. Modi will then travel to the Maldives at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu in what is being seen as a breakthrough in the ties .

Iran, European nations to hold first nuclear talks since Israel ceasefire

Iran said Monday it would hold renewed talks this week with European nations over the country's nuclear program, with discussions to be hosted by Turkey. The talks, to be held in Istanbul on Friday, will be the first since a ceasefire was reached after a 12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw the United States strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic. A similar meeting had been held in the Turkish city in May. The discussions will bring Iranian officials together with officials from Britain, France and Germany known as the E3 nations and will include the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. The topic of the talks is clear, lifting sanctions and issues related to the peaceful nuclear programme of Iran," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in his weekly briefing. He said the meeting will be held at the deputy ministerial level. Under a 2015 deal designed to cap Iran's nuclear activities, Iran agreed to toug

British fighter jet to fly back on Tuesday after being grounded for 5 weeks

The British Royal Navy F-35B Lightning fighter jet, which made an emergency landing at the international airport here over a month ago and parked here since then, is all set to fly back home on Tuesday, sources said. According to airport sources here, the repair works of the jet, part of the UK's most advanced stealth fleet, were completed. "It is being brought out of the hangar now. The jet will be brought to our bay, and it will fly back on Tuesday," a source said. The exact time of its return is yet to be available, he said. Known to be one of the most advanced fighter aircraft in the world and worth over USD 110 million, the jet has remained grounded at the international airport here since June 14 after it developed a technical snag. Later, aviation engineers from the UK arrived here to carry out the necessary repairs. The source said the British jet has been kept at the hangar of Air India all these days. Besides the landing charge, there was also daily rent and a parking f

PM Modi to visit UK, Maldives from July 23-26 to strengthen ties: MEA

The visit to the UK is at the invitation of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, while the state visit to the Maldives is at the invitation of President Mohamed Muizzu

Britain to lower voting age to 16 to restore 'public trust' in democracy

The UK government on Thursday announced that it will lower the voting age from 18 to 16 years in time for the next general election expected in 2029, a manifesto commitment made by the Labour Party when it was voted last year. The move will bring UK-wide elections in line with the devolved Scotland and Wales regions as part of what the British government described as one of the biggest changes to UK democracy in a generation. The plans also include an expansion of the voter ID system to permit the use of UK-issued bank cards as an accepted form of ID at polling stations, to ensure eligible voters are not "deterred from voting". For too long, public trust in our democracy has been damaged and faith in our institutions has been allowed to decline, said UK Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, marking the release of a strategy paper that sets in motion plans to lower the voting age. "We are modernising our democracy, so that it is fit for the 21st century. By delivering our manifesto .

Pak Air Force says JF-17 jets set to participate in UK military airshow

Pakistan's advanced JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets are set to participate in a UK military airshow, the Air Force announced in a statement here on Thursday. PAF's participation in RIAT (Royal International Air Tattoo), one of the world's largest military airshows, underscores Pakistan Air Force's commitment to showcasing its professional excellence, the statement said, adding that the aircraft have already landed at the Royal Air Force Base Fairford. "JF-17 Block-III is an EASA Radar and Long Range BVR equipped 4.5 generation multi-role fighter aircraft which is capable of undertaking a wide variety of combat missions, bolstering airpower application in the face of contemporary challenges, thereby strengthening national security, the statement added. Pakistan claims to have used JF-17 in the recent conflict with India. The aircraft's combat-proven capabilities and operational excellence have garnered significant global attention, making its appearance at RIAT a highly ...

UK lifts 5-year ban on Pak's national carrier PIA ahead of privatisation

The UK imposed a ban on PIA in 2020 after one of its aircraft crashed into a Karachi street, resulting in the death of nearly 100 people

Four people killed in small plane crash at London Southend airport: Police

All four people aboard a small plane that crashed shortly after taking off from London Southend Airport are dead, police said Monday. Essex Police said work continued to formally identify the victims of Sunday's crash. "At this stage, we believe all four are foreign nationals," Police Chief Superintendent Morgan Cronin told reporters. Britain's national news agency, PA, reported that a document listing passengers indicated that two Dutch pilots and a Chilean nurse were among those aboard. The Beechcraft B200 Super King Air operated by Dutch firm Zeusch Aviation had flown from Athens, Greece, to Pula in Croatia before heading to Southend. It was due to return to its home base of Lelystad in the Netherlands on Sunday evening. The 12-meter (39-foot) turboprop plane came down moments after takeoff and burst into flames. At this stage, it is too early to speculate on what may have caused this tragic accident, said Lisa Fitzsimons of Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch, which s

King Charles to host Trump for state visit between September 17-19

US President Donald Trump will make an unprecedented second state visit to the UK between Sept. 17 and 19 when he will be hosted by King Charles II and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace said Monday. Trump, who is a big supporter of the royal family, particularly of the monarch, will be accompanied by his wife, Melania Trump during the three-day visit, the palace confirmed. No US president has been invited for a second state visit. Trump previously enjoyed the pomp and pageantry of the state visit in 2019 during his first term when he was hosted by Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The invitation for the second state visit from the king was hand-delivered by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in February during a meeting at the White House. After reading it, Trump said it was a great, great honor and appeared particularly pleased by the fact he will be staying at Windsor Castle, to the west of the capital. That's really something, he said. Precedent for ..

Over 70 arrested at UK protests in support of banned group Palestine Action

More than 70 people were arrested Saturday at protests in the UK against the Palestine Action group being proscribed a terrorist organisation by the British government following a break-in and vandalism at a Royal Air Force base. In London, the Metropolitan Police said 42 people had been arrested by late afternoon. All but one of the arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organisation, which police have said includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos. Another person was arrested for common assault. A further 16 arrests were made in Manchester, according to Greater Manchester Police, while South Wales Police said 13 people were also held in Cardiff. In London, it was the second straight week protesters gathered to support the pro-Palestinian activist group. Its outlawing has meant support for the organisation is deemed a criminal offense. Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest last weekend. Two groups gathered undernea

UK economy shrinks again in May, raising new worries amid global headwinds

Gross domestic product declined by 0.1 per cent after a 0.3 per cent drop in April, the Office for National Statistics said

France's Macron makes state visit to UK with migration, Ukraine on agenda

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Britain on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also try to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine, despite apparent US indifference to the idea and Russia's refusal to halt the onslaught on its neighbor. Macron's three-day visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit, and a symbol of the British government's desire to reset relations with the bloc that the UK acrimoniously left in 2020. The president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, will be driven to Windsor Castle by horse-drawn carriage, greeted by a military honor guard and treated to a state banquet hosted by the king and Queen Camilla. The British royals made a state visit to France in September 2023. Macron also will address

20 years since 7/7 attack: How London bombings changed the UK forever

Britain marks 20 years since the 7/7 London bombings that killed 52 and injured nearly 800. A look back at the attacks, the failed 21/7 plot, investigations, and their lasting impact on the UK

Ship attacked in Red Sea near Yemen amid ongoing regional tensions

A ship came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen by armed men firing guns and launching rocket-propelled grenades, a group overseen by the British military said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war and after the Iran-Israel war and airstrikes by the United States targeting Iranian nuclear sites. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre said that an armed security team on the ship had returned fire and that the situation is ongoing. Authorities are investigating, it said. Yemen's Houthi rebels have been launching missile and drone attacks against commercial and military ships in the region in what the group's leadership has described as an effort to end Israel's offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Between November 2023 and January 2025, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killi

UK probes Bob Vylan's chants against Israeli army; US revokes band's visas

British police launched a criminal investigation Monday into a televised performance at the Glastonbury Festival by rap punk duo Bob Vylan, who drew intense criticism after they led crowds of music fans in chanting death to the Israeli military. Meanwhile, the US State Department said it has revoked the US visas for Bob Vylan, who were set to go on tour in the United States later this year, after their hateful tirade at Glastonbury. Rapper Bobby Vylan who until the weekend was relatively little known led crowds in chants of free, free Palestine and death, death to the IDF" the Israel Defence Forces on Saturday at Britain's biggest summer music festival. The BBC said it regretted livestreaming the performance. The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves, the broadcaster said, adding that it respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UK