Page 15 - Uk

Suella Braverman orders review into UK police firearms regulations

UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has launched a review into the legal protections for officers on firearms duties after a revolt within Scotland Yard ranks following a murder charge against a Metropolitan Police officer who had discharged his gun while on duty. The UK's Ministry of Defence (MoD) is said to have offered soldiers as backup support for armed police in London after several officers turned in their weapon-carrying permits since their colleague was charged last week. The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had authorised charges against the officer, granted legal anonymity, in connection with a shooting in September last year. "We depend on our brave firearms officers to protect us from the most dangerous and violent in society. In the interest of public safety, they have to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressures," Braverman said in a post on X on Sunday. "They mustn't fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties. Officers risking their

India fourth in number of startups with over $50 mn funding: Scaleup Report

In the survey involving 12,400 startups, India is ranked fourth with 429 scaleups, after the US (7,184), China (1,491), and the UK (623)

Canada's allegations may be based on intelligence of US or UK: Expert

Canada recently announced that the intelligence it is using to investigate the Nijjar case has got inputs from one of the other five Eye country members

Britain uses UN speech to show want to be a leader on how world handles AI

Britain has pitched itself to the world as a ready leader in shaping an international response to the rise of artificial intelligence, with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden telling the UN General Assembly his country was "determined to be in the vanguard". Touting the United Kingdom's tech companies, its universities and even Industrial Revolution-era innovations, he said Friday that the nation has "the grounding to make AI a success and make it safe". He went on to suggest that a British AI task force, which is working on methods for assessing AI systems' vulnerability, could develop expertise to offer internationally. His remarks at the assembly's annual meeting of world leaders previewed an AI safety summit that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is convening in November. Dowden's speech also came as other countries and multinational groups including the European Union, the bloc that Britain left in 2020 are making moves on artificial intelligence. The EU this year passed ..

Bank of England halts run of interest rate hikes as economy slows

It cut its forecast for economic growth in the July-September period to just 0.1% from August's forecast of 0.4% and noted clear signs of weakness in the housing market

India, Brazil, Germany, Japan should be permanent members of UNSC: Cleverly

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emphasised that Africa deserves a louder voice on the world stage

UK inflation in surprise fall in Aug, though BoE still set to raise rates

Inflation in Britain fell unexpectedly in August to its lowest level since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which led to sharp rises in energy and food costs. The Office for National Statistics said Wednesday that inflation, as measured by the consumer prices index was 6.7 per cent in August this year, down from 6.8 per cent in July. The decline took inflation to its lowest level since February 2022. It said that lower hotel and air fare costs and a moderation in food price rises helped offset an increase in energy prices on the back of higher crude oil prices. The decline was unexpected. Most analysts had expected an increase to around 7 per cent. Though the surprise decline was encouraging, inflation remains way above the Bank of England's target rate of 2 per cent and most economists think it will raise its main borrowing rate once again on Thursday by a quarter of a percentage point to a near 16-year high of 5.5 per cent. Like other central banks around the world, th

UK leader Rishi Sunak signals plan to backtrack on some climate goals

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to water down some of Britain's climate commitments, saying the country must fight climate change without penalizing workers and consumers. Sunak issued a late-night statement Tuesday in response to a BBC report saying the prime minister is considering extending deadlines for bans on new gasoline and diesel cars currently due in 2030 - and on new natural-gas home heating. Sunak said that in a speech this week he will set out a proportionate approach to the environment. He did not set a date for the speech, which could come as early as Wednesday. For too many years, politicians in governments of all stripes have not been honest about costs and trade-offs, Sunak said in a statement. Instead they have taken the easy way out, saying we can have it all. Sunak did not confirm details of his announcements. He said he would keep a promise to reduce the UK's emissions of climate-warming greenhouse gases to net zero by 2050, but in a better, more ...

In touch with Canadian partners over Trudeau's allegations on India: UK

The UK Foreign Secretary stressed further that it was important that Canada's investigation into allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of the pro-Khalistan leader runs its course

Comedian Russell Brand denies allegations of sexual assault published in UK

Three British news organizations have reported that comedian and social influencer Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and abuse based on allegations from four women who knew him over a seven-year period at the height of his fame. Brand denied the allegations and said that all of his relationships have been consensual. The Sunday Times, The Times of London and Channel 4's Dispatches said that one woman alleged she had been raped, while three others accused him of sexual assault. One of the women also said he had been physically and emotionally abusive. The women said that they only felt ready to tell their stories after being approached by reporters, with some citing Brand's newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer as a factor in their decision to speak. Before the stories were published, Brand posted a video online denying the allegations, which had been outlined in two extremely disturbing letters from a mainstream media television company and a ...

UK officially proscribes Russia's Wagner Group as terrorist organisation

The release added that the Wagner group has now been added to the list of proscribed organisations in the UK, alongside 78 organisations

Tata Steel signs 500 million pound-deal with UK govt for Port Talbot plant

Tata group chairman, N Chandrasekaran, said the agreement with the UK Government was a defining moment for the future of the steel industry and indeed the industrial value chain in the UK

India and UK free-trade agreement negotiations to resume on Monday

Negotiations for Canada deal only after resolution of political issues

India, UK explore possibility of shares listing at GIFT City and LSE

Under current regulations, Indian firms are not allowed to list directly on overseas exchanges. They can only list on foreign exchanges through instruments such as depository receipts

UK government likely to curb Paracetamol sale to reduce suicide cases

According to the report, the strategy highlights that reduction in suicides have stalled since 2018

India, UK express commitment for early conclusion of free trade pact

India and the UK on Monday expressed their commitment to an early conclusion of the free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. Addressing a joint press conference with UK Chancellor of Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said both sides intend to expedite the free trade agreement. "There is definitely some discussion on the FTA...the key on both the sides is to conclude it as soon as possible," she said at the conclusion of the 12th India-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue. Hunt appreciated the efforts being made for the direct listing of Indian companies on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). "We are particularly pleased to have made a big step forward with the first confirmation by India that it will explore the LSE as an international destination for the direct listing of Indian companies. "Alongside that, there is a new Pensions and Insurance Partnership, the establishment of knowledge and expertise-sharing and the new UK Infrastructure Financing

UK PM Rishi Sunak conveys Britain's spying concerns to China at G20 Summit

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Sunday conveyed the UK's significant concerns about alleged Chinese interference in the UK's parliamentary democracy to the country's Premier at the G20 Summit in New Delhi, after a UK media report revealed spying charges against two men. Sunak met Li Qiang as The Sunday Times' reported that two men were arrested under the UK's Official Secrets Act amid claims a parliamentary researcher in Britain spied for China. One of the men, in his 20s, was a researcher with links to several governing Conservative Party MPs and another man in his 30s were both said to have been arrested in March and now out on bail. "The Prime Minister met Premier Li Qiang and conveyed his significant concerns about Chinese interference in the UK's parliamentary democracy," a 10 Downing Street spokesperson said. Both men were held at a south London police station until being released on bail until early October. The Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command, which ...

UK to give $2 bn to Green Climate Fund in biggest single funding commitment

The UK on Sunday said it will provide USD 2 billion to the Green Climate Fund in its "biggest" single funding commitment to help the world tackle climate change. The British High Commission in India said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced the financial contribution to help the world's most vulnerable people adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change. Sunak is currently in New Delhi to attend the two-day G20 Summit, which began on Saturday. "The UK is stepping up and delivering on our climate commitments, both by decarbonising our own economy and supporting the world's most vulnerable to deal with the impact of climate change," Sunak said, addressing the G20 leaders. "This is the kind of leadership that the world rightly expects from G20 countries. And this government will continue to lead by example in making the UK, and the world, more prosperous and secure," he said.

Want easier intra-company transfers for workers: India on UK FTA talks

Vikram Doraiswami said that India has been seeking the simplification of the process by which intra-company transfers happen

The case for decoupled elections

Both the EU and India follow a similar practice of separating elections and there are good reasons to keep it that way