Page 16 - Uk Govt

UK Foreign Secretary says attack on Indian High Commission 'unacceptable'

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly responded to the attack on Indian High Commission and called the attack by the Khalistani elements unacceptable in a statement on Thursday

UK govt working on a plan for tech firms after Silicon Valley Bank collapse

US regulators shut down the bank on Friday in what is the largest failure of a US bank since 2008

Rising costs by inflation force UK govt to delay major rail project

The UK has announced a two-year delay to parts of a new high-speed rail link between London and northern England, citing escalating costs caused by inflation

Rishi Sunak unveils new framework to make UK science & tech superpower

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday launched a new framework through his newly created ministry the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology as part of a vision to cement the UK's place as a science and technology superpower by 2030. The British Indian leader said the new Science and Technology Framework is designed to challenge every part of government to better put the UK at the forefront of global science and technology this decade through 10 key actions, creating a coordinated cross-government approach. Downing Street said that the framework will work alongside a raft of new measures backed by over GBP 370 million in funding to boost investment in innovation, bring the world's best talent to the UK, and seize the potential of ground-breaking new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). "Trailblazing science and innovation have been in our DNA for decades. But in an increasingly competitive world, we can only stay ahead with focus, dynamism and ...

We stand up for BBC: UK govt in Parliament after India's I-T survey

The British government has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after the Income-Tax department's survey operations on the UK-headquartered media corporation's New Delhi and Mumbai offices over three days last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons on Tuesday to say that the government cannot comment on the allegations made by the I-T department over an ongoing investigation but stressed that media freedom and freedom of speech are essential elements of robust democracies. David Rutley, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the FCDO, pointed to a broad and deep relationship with India which meant the UK was able to discuss a wide range of issues in a "constructive manner". We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is vital. We want the BBC to have that editorial freedom, said Rutley. It criticises us (government), it criticises t

UK government 'closely monitoring' tax surveys at BBC offices in India

The UK is "closely monitoring" the situation following the Income Tax surveys at the BBC offices in India, British government sources here said on Tuesday. The Income Tax department conducted survey operations at the BBC's offices in Delhi and Mumbai on Tuesday with the officials describing the action as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion. Reacting to the Indian IT department's action, the UK-based British public broadcaster said that it was "fully cooperating" with the authorities and hoped that the situation will be resolved "as soon as possible". While there has been no official statement from the UK government related to the action, British sources said they are closely monitoring" reports of tax surveys conducted at the offices of the BBC in India. In New Delhi, officials said the survey was being carried out to investigate issues related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies, and alleged that the BBC had been served with ...

UK set for biggest strike in years as teachers, civil servants walk out

Between June and November, more days were lost to industrial action than in any six months for over 30 years, according to official data

British PM Rishi Sunak funds 100 projects to level up all parts of UK

British PM Sunak has unveiled "transformational funding" of around GBP 2.1 billion for 100 projects to help towards the Conservative Party government's agenda in the United Kingdom

Inflation eases slightly to 10.5% in Dec: UK national statistics office

The annual inflation rate for transport was 6.9 per cent in December, down for a sixth consecutive month, and the main driver behind the easing came from motor fuels, the ONS said

India, UK to launch Young Professionals Scheme on February 28: MEA

Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra led the Indian delegation while the British side was helmed by Philip Barton, Permanent Under-Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

UK strikes roll on as some 100,000 civil servants call for walkout

Workers for 124 government departments and agencies will walk out on Feb. 1, impacting a range of public services including driving tests, passport applications and welfare payments

Plane carrying 'Virgin Orbit' rocket takes off for 1st UK satellite launch

A modified jumbo jet carrying a Virgin Orbit rocket took off from southwestern England Monday, marking the first attempt to launch satellites into orbit from Western Europe. Hundreds gathered for the launch cheered as the repurposed Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 aircraft, named Cosmic Girl, took off from Cornwall late Monday. Around an hour into the flight, the plane will release the rocket at 35,000 feet (around 10,000 meters) over the Atlantic Ocean to the south of Ireland. The rocket will then take nine small satellites for mixed civil and defense use into orbit, while the plane, piloted by a Royal Air Force pilot, returns to Cornwall. If successful, the mission will mark the first international launch for Virgin Orbit, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson. The company, which is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, has already completed four similar launches from California. In the past, satellites produced in the U.K. had to be sent to spaceports in other countries to ma

UK PM Sunak pledges to halve inflation, boost country's economy in new year

Calling these the "people's priorities", Sunak vowed to "work night and day" to deliver for the British people

UK's problems won't go away in 2023, warns PM Sunak in New Year message

Rishi Sunak struck a cautious note with his first New Year message as British Prime Minister on Saturday as he warned that the UK's problems won't go away in 2023, at the end of an tough 12 months. The 42-year-old Indian-origin leader, who took charge as the UK's Prime Minister towards the end of October following turmoil within the ruling Conservative Party, recalled his inaugural address on the steps of 10 Downing Street to reiterate his promise to work relentlessly" on the things that matter. "I'm not going to pretend that all our problems will go away in the New Year," said Sunak. But 2023 will give us the opportunity to showcase the very best of Britain on the world stagedefending freedom and democracy wherever we find it under threat," he said. He highlighted the "barbaric" war in Ukraine as one of the dominating challenges ahead. Just as we recovered from an unprecedented global pandemic, Russia launched a barbaric and illegal invasion across Ukraine," he said in the video

Living with Covid phase: UK to stop publishing infections data in New Year

The UK health authorities said on Monday that they will stop publishing their regular COVID-19 infections modelling data in the new year because it is seen as no longer necessary as the country moves to a phase of living with the virus with the help of vaccines and medicines. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said that it will continue to monitor COVID like other common viral illnesses such as seasonal flu. Since April this year, the data on the reproductive rate, or the R value speed at which the novel coronavirus infects people, has been published fortnightly as a monitoring tool. During the pandemic, the R value and growth rate served as a useful and simple indicator to inform public health action and government decisions, said Dr Nick Watkins, chair of the UKHSA Epidemiology Modelling Review Group (EMRG). Now that vaccines and therapeutics have allowed us to move to a phase where we are living with COVID-19, with surveillance scaled down but still closely monitored through a

Nirav Modi loses bid to go to UK Supreme Court against extradition to India

Fugitive jeweller and designer had fled India in early 2018, days before the details of his alleged role in large-scale fraud at the Punjab National Bank became public

UK minister reiterates backing for India UNSC seat, praises PM Modi

The UK wants India to be among the new permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, alongside Brazil, Japan, Germany and African representation, British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said on Monday. In his first major foreign policy speech since taking charge in the Rishi Sunak-led government, Cleverly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his categorical anti-war message to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he went on to commit himself to working with India during its G20 presidency. "The UK wants to welcome Brazil, India, Japan and Germany as permanent members of the UN Security Council, alongside permanent African representation. Our aim is to uphold a historic shared achievement that benefits everyone," Cleverly said in his keynote speech entitled British Foreign Policy and Diplomacy' at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in London. "Putin's goal is to turn back the clock to the era when might was right and big countries could treat thei

UK, Italy, Japan team up to build sixth-generation fighter by 2035

Reports indicate the UK held talks with India on joining the coalition

UK to ease financial rules in post-Brexit shakeup to attract investments

Britain is easing banking rules brought in after the 2008 global financial crisis in a bid to attract investment and secure London's status as Europe's leading finance centre. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt said Friday that the changes, which follow Britain's departure from the European Union in 2020, will make the UK one of the most open, dynamic and competitive financial services hubs in the world. The package of more than 30 changes includes lifting a cap on bankers' bonuses and easing capital requirements for smaller lenders. The government also said it will review regulations that hold bankers accountable for their decisions and will relax ringfencing rules intended to separate risky investment banking from retail operations. Hunt said the government was using Brexit freedoms to make Britain more competitive. But many economists point out that the U.K.'s departure from the EU has erected barriers to trade and led some firms to shift offices and jobs to other European cities. Last

European sanctions on Russian oil lead to a traffic jam on Turkey's coast

The government in Ankara is insisting the ships have a letter from their insurer guaranteeing cover while in Turkish waters -- something that's yet to happen