Page 12 - Uk

Tory suspends lawmaker after he claims London mayor controlled by Islamists

The UK's governing Conservative Party has suspended ties with one if its lawmakers after he accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of being controlled by Islamists, as tensions over the Israel-Hamas war roil British politics. The party said on Saturday that Lee Anderson was suspended after he refused to apologise for remarks made about Khan in a television interview on Friday. The action means that Anderson, a deputy chairman of the Conservatives until last month, will sit in Parliament as an independent. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other senior Conservative leaders had come under increasing pressure to reject the comments, which the chairwoman of the opposition Labour Party called unambiguously racist and Islamophobic. The controversy comes as the Israel-Hamas war fuels tensions in British society. Pro-Palestinian marches in London have regularly drawn hundreds of thousands of demonstrators calling for an immediate cease-fire, even as critics describe the events as antisemitic hate ...

Israel has right to defend itself; calls for ceasefire naive: Braverman

UK's former Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Saturday said Israel has the right to defend itself from attacks by terrorists and calls for an immediate ceasefire to end the conflict with Hamas are "naive and dangerous". Speaking at ABP Network's Ideas of India Summit 3.0, Braverman also hoped to secure a mutually beneficial UK-India trade deal. Braverman, who served as the UK's Home Secretary between September 2022 and November 2023, said Israel has endured one of the most atrocious acts of brutality seen in decades by the terrorist group Hamas. It is also under attack from Hezbollah. The Conservative Party MP said the ongoing conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, and in West Asia, are real threats to global security. Commenting on India-UK trade potential, Braverman said, "Post BREXIT, UK heralds a great opportunity for UK-India trade deal to double trade worth 86 billion pounds, doubling India's exports and increasing UK investment in India, particularly in sectors infrastructu

UK extends visa scheme for war-hit Ukrainians; allows extra 18 months stay

The UK government on Sunday extended its visa scheme for war-hit Ukrainians who sought refuge in the country in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, allowing an additional 18-month stay on their current terms. The Home Office said that from early 2025, all those in the UK under one of the Ukraine visa schemes will be able to apply to stay here for an additional 18 months and continue to have the same rights to access work, benefits, healthcare, and education throughout their stay. This will mean those who came on the first visas under one of the Ukraine visa schemes could now stay in the UK until September 2026. This new visa extension scheme provides certainty and reassurance for Ukrainians in the UK on their future as this war continues, and we will continue to provide a safe haven for those fleeing the conflict, said Tom Pursglove, UK Minister for Legal Migration and the Border. Almost two years on from the start of this brutal war, over 200,000 Ukrainians and their family .

King Charles III has cancer, is receiving treatment, says Buckingham Palace

King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer and has begun treatment, Buckingham Palace says. The palace says the cancer is not related to the king's recent treatment for a benign prostate condition. It did not say what form of cancer the 75-year-old monarch has. It said Charles remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

TCS extends deal with UK's Aviva for 15 yrs to improve customer experience

Indian company's scope of work will expand to cover more than 5.5 mn insurance policies

UK antitrust regulator begins investigation of Vodafone-Hutchison merger

The tie-up announced last year will reduce the number of mobile networks in Britain from four to three

King Charles III admitted to hospital for scheduled prostate operation

Britain's King Charles III was on Friday admitted to a private hospital here for treatment for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace announced. The procedure will be carried out at the London Clinic private hospital, where Catherine, the Princess of Wales, had surgery last week. The 75-year-old King visited the Princess of Wales in the hospital this morning, ahead of his own scheduled treatment. It is not yet known how long King Charles will remain in hospital. King Charles III had made his health problem public as a way of sending a message to other men to get their prostates checked. A statement from Buckingham Palace said the King was "delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness". He also thanked those who had "sent their good wishes," the BBC reported. The plan for King Charles to have a "corrective procedure" for his enlarged prostate was revealed by the palace last week. A benign prostate problem, which is non-cancerous,

75th Republic Day: King Charles says he looks forward to working with India

King Charles III on Friday congratulated the people of India on its 75th Republic Day and said he looks forward to the UK and India working together to tackle the world's most pressing challenges. In a message to President Droupadi Murmu, the British monarch said he cherishes the close bond shared between the two countries and added: I am confident that our ties will continue to flourish in this very special seventy-fifth anniversary year of the Commonwealth a fitting reminder of the enduring values and aspirations that unite us. Incidentally, King Charles III is the same age as the Indian Republic. It was on January 26, 1950, that the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935, a legacy of the British Raj from the colonial times. Congratulating India on a successful G20 presidency last year, King Charles III said, I look forward to our countries continuing to work together to tackle the world's most pressing global challenges. He also said he

Oxford terminates deal with TCS after technical glitch in admission test

The Oxford University has terminated its deal with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) after students experienced technical glitches while taking online admission test for the institution. "Following the technical problems experienced by some candidates during the delivery of this year's online admissions tests by a new provider, TCS will not be involved in the delivery of Oxford admissions tests going forward," a spokesperson for the university said. Thousands of students from across the world appear for test to get admitted to Oxford every year. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through 30 colleges across the UK. Prominent Indians who studied at Oxford include former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. In April 2023, the UK-based institution selected TCS iON, the learning and assessments-focused unit of TCS, for conducting the admission tests, replacing Cambridge Admissions Assessment Testing. The university attributed complaints by candida

Latest Houthi threat in Suez Canal to impact Indian shipping further

US and British forces had carried out a series of airstrikes on Houthi assets on both land and sea beginning Friday

Oil jumps 4% as tankers avoid Red Sea after US-UK joint strikes on Houthis

Brent crude futures were up $3.16, or 4.1%, at $80.57 a barrel at 1124 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed $3.05, or 4.2%, to $75.07

Red Sea crisis: Houthis threaten more attacks after UK and US air strikes in Yemen

The United States and Britain launched strikes against sites linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen, the first on the country since the Iran-backed group started targeting international shipping.

UK plans new framework to tackle small bank failures after SVB collapse

The proposals would require the industry to meet some costs associated with the bank failures rather than the taxpayer, Britain's Treasury said

India-UK to cooperate, co-create, co-innovate, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India envisions an enriching defence partnership with the UK focussed on co-creation as he co-chaired a UK-India Defence Industry CEOs Roundtable with his British counterpart Grant Shapps here. The roundtable was attended by several chief executives from the UK defence industry, UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials, the UK-India Business Council (UKIBC) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) India representatives. Some of the major defence companies represented at the interaction included BAE Systems, GE Vernova, James Fisher Defence, Leonardo SpA, Martin Baker Aircraft Company Ltd, SAAB UK, Thales UK, Ultra-Maritime Rolls-Royce, ADS Group, and MBDA UK. "Had a wonderful interaction with the industry leaders and CEOs at the UK-India Defence CEO Roundtable in London," Singh said in a post on X. "India envisions an enriching partnership with the UK to cooperate, co-create and co-innovate. By synergising the strengths of both the .

US and other countries warn Houthis against further attacks in Red Sea

They called the attacks "illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilising."

US and other countries warn Houthis against further attacks in Red Sea

They called the attacks "illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilising."

British actor Tom Wilkinson, known for 'The Full Monty', dies at 75

Tom Wilkinson, the Oscar-nominated British actor known for his roles in The Full Monty", Michael Clayton and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, has died, his family said. He was 75. A statement shared by his agent on behalf of the family said Wilkinson died suddenly at home on Saturday. It didn't provide further details. Wilkinson was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his work in 2001's family drama In The Bedroom in 2001 and in the best supporting actor category for his role in Michael Clayton, a 2007 film that starred George Clooney. He is remembered by many in Britain and beyond for playing former steel mill foreman Gerald Cooper in the 1997 comedy The Full Monty," about a group of unemployed steel workers who formed an unlikely male stripping act. Wilkinson appeared in dozens of other movies, including Batman Begins, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" and Valkyrie". The actor was recognized for his services to drama in 2005 when he was appointed a member of the Ord

AI cannot be patent 'inventor', UK Supreme Court rules in landmark case

In a separate case last month, London's High Court ruled that artificial neural networks can attract patent protection under UK law

Can a US-led naval force protect ships, oil in Red Sea, Persian Gulf?

In recent weeks, the Houthis have conducted an escalating series of attacks against merchant shipping using drones, ballistic missiles and commandos on helicopters and speedboats

Negotiating trade pact with EU, UK, Sri Lanka, Peru: Commerce ministry

India is negotiating free trade agreements with the European Union (EU), the UK, Sri Lanka, and Peru, according to a year-end review statement of the commerce ministry. India-European Union (EU) free trade agreement negotiations were formally re-launched on June 17 2022. "Negotiations cover 23 policy areas/chapters. Six rounds of negotiations have been held till October 2023," the ministry said. With the UK, 13 rounds of talks have been completed and the next round will take place in January 2024. "India-Sri Lanka Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ECTA) negotiations are ongoing with the 12th round of negotiations conducted from 30th October to 1st November 2023 in Colombo," it said. It added that both sides also agreed to continue discussions on matters, including apparel quotas and pharmaceutical procurement. With Peru, it said discussions on various chapters, including rules of origin, trade in goods, trade facilitation, sanitary, and phytosanitary measures were ..