Page 16 - Uk Govt

UK blocks Microsoft's $69 bn deal Activision deal over competition fears

British regulators have blocked Microsoft's USD 69 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard over worries that it would stifle competition in the cloud gaming market. The Competition and Markets Authority said in its final report Wednesday that the only effective remedy to the significant loss of competition that the deal would result in is to prohibit the Merger. The all-cash deal was set to be the biggest in the history of the tech industry. But it faces stiff opposition from rival Sony and is also being scrutinised by regulators in the US and Europe over fears that it would give Microsoft control of popular game franchises like Call of Duty. Microsoft said it was disappointed and signalled it wasn't ready to give up. We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal, President Brad Smith said in a statement. He said the UK watchdog's decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns" and discourages tech innovation and investment in th

UK PM commences evacuation of British nationals from strife-torn Sudan

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said his government has commenced a large-scale evacuation effort to help British nationals leave strife-torn Sudan from Tuesday. UK military flights are due to depart from an airfield outside the Sudanese capital of Khartoum, supported by senior diplomats from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). Flights will be open to those with British passports and priority will be given to family groups with children and/or the elderly or individuals with medical conditions. "The government has begun a large-scale evacuation of British passport holders from Sudan on RAF flights. Priority will be given to the most vulnerable, including families with children and the elderly, Sunak said on Twitter. "I pay tribute to the British Armed Forces, diplomats and Border Force staff carrying out this complex operation. The UK will continue to work to end the bloodshed in Sudan and support a democratic government, he said. At this stage, the FCDO has sa

UK PM Sunak faces parliamentary probe over wife Akshata's business interest

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing a watchdog inquiry under his parliamentary declaration of interest obligations related to a Budget policy that could benefit his wife, Akshata Murty, through her business interest in a childcare firm, it emerged on Monday. The inquiry has been opened by the UK's Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, an independent officer of the House of Commons in charge of looking at evidence if individual British members of Parliament are feared to have broken a rule under the Code of Conduct'. The active inquiries on the watchdog's list include one opened on Sunak, 42, last Thursday under Paragraph 6 of the rules of conduct, as Downing Street said ministerial interests were "transparently declared". Members must always be open and frank in declaring any relevant interest in any proceeding of the House or its Committees, and in any communications with Ministers, Members, public officials or public office holders, states Paragraph 6. According to t

Policy vacuum

Govt must frame rules for space communication

TikTok to be blocked from parliamentary devices, networks in UK: Report

The commissions of the House of Commons and House of Lords have announced they will follow the move taken by the government on official devices, citing the need for cyber security

UK ex-PM Boris Johnson once again apologises over Partygate scandal

Boris Johnson has once again apologised over the Partygate scandal, this time for inadvertently misleading the British Parliament over the COVID law-breaking parties at Downing Street during his time as prime minister. Johnson was grilled for hours on Wednesday by the House of Commons Privileges Committee, which is investigating whether he knowingly misled the Parliament over the Partygate scandal of gathering that breached the lockdown rules. I apologise for inadvertently misleading this House, but to say that I did it recklessly or deliberately is completely untrue, as the evidence shows, he told the committee. During a heated session, the 58-year-old senior Conservative Party MP insisted the events that came under the purview of the scandal were essential during the lockdown period as Downing Street doubles up as a workplace and residence. "I believe it was absolutely essential for work purposes," he said when questioned about a particular event in November 2020. Johnson said t

UK to respond 'robustly' against attack on Indian High Commission: Cleverly

The UK will review the security at the Indian High Commission here following "unacceptable" acts of violence by pro-Khalistan protesters, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said, asserting that the government takes these matters "very seriously" and would "robustly" respond to such incidents. Around 2,000 protesters waving Khalistan flags descended upon the Indian mission here on Wednesday for a planned demonstration and hurled objects and chanted slogans amid a heightened security presence and barricades. Unlike the violent disorder on Sunday when the India House came under attack, the protesters were barricaded across the road with uniformed officers standing guard and patrolling the area throughout. The protesters, including turbaned men, and some women and children, had been bused in from different parts of the UK and chanted pro-Khalistan slogans. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Cleverly said the British government takes such matters very seriously and

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