British Government

Amazon's $1.7 billion iRobot purchase faces UK antitrust scrutiny

British antitrust regulators have started investigating Amazon's purchase of robot vacuum maker iRobot, adding further scrutiny to the $1.7 billion deal. The Competition and Markets Authority said Thursday that it's considering whether the deal will result in a substantial lessening of competition within the United Kingdom. In an initial step, the U.K. watchdog invited comments on the deal from any interested party. The acquisition is already facing a review in the U.S. by the Federal Trade Commission amid worries about Amazon's growing market power. Consumer groups had voiced concerns after the deal was announced last year that it would further the e-commerce giant's dominance in the smart home market. Amazon said it's working cooperatively with the relevant regulators in their review of the merger. Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot, which makes the popular Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners, said it continues to work cooperatively with both the U.S. FTC and other regulatory agencie

Britishers were afraid of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: Anurag Thakur

Union Sports Minister Anurag Thakur said here on Sunday that the Britishers were afraid of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose who had left the Indian Civil Service (ICS) to join the freedom struggle.After independence, the ICS became the Indian Administrative Service (IAS)."Netaji left ICS and dedicated himself to the country's freedom struggle. Netaji stood alone in front of the Britishers. Britishers said they were not afraid of Mahatma Gandhi. Britishers were afraid of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. There were several freedom fighters on Bengal's soil so the Britishers had to move to Delhi," Thakur said while addressing the youth at the 'Yuvotsav 2023, Swavalambi Bharat Abhiyan' here.Thakur also stressed that it is the responsibility of the youth to fight against those trying to "murder democracy.""Many freedom fighters took birth on this land. If you can free this land from Britishers, you can also free this land from those who are murdering democracy. You have to save the name of Bengal," ..

Force multiplier: Meet Lord Karan Bilimoria, India's voice in the UK

'An Indian living in London; but an Indian born and brought up in India: not a second generation Asian but a first generation immigrant - who's totally Indian but feels at home in both countries'

India remains top nationality granted worker visas: British High Commission

In October, British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis had said that they were on track to get back to processing India-to-UK visa application within standard 15 of days

Braverman resigns as UK interior minister with veiled criticism of Truss

The departure of Braverman, over a 'technical' breach of government rules, means Truss has now lost two of her most senior ministers in less than a week

Climate activists throw soup on Van Gogh's 'Sunflowers' in National Gallery

The activists, who are a part of a group called "Just Stop Oil" wants the British government to halt new oil and gas projects

Tatas mull exit from UK steel business on lack of government support

Tata Sons is considering Tata Steel's exit from its UK operations because of the absence of support from the British government for transition to green energy

UK offers licensing round for North Sea oil & gas exploration despite oppn

The British government opened a new licensing round for North Sea oil and gas exploration Friday despite criticism from environmentalists and scientists who say the move undermines the country's commitment to fighting climate change. The Conservative government argues that extracting more fossil fuels from the North Sea will create jobs and strengthen UK energy security, and is less environmentally harmful than importing gas and oil from abroad. I know it sounds contradictory but it's actually good for the environment, Climate Minister Graham Stuart said. When we burn our own gas, it's got lower emissions around its production than foreign gas as well as supporting British jobs, he told the BBC. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has pushed gas and electricity prices higher and squeezed energy supplies across Europe, prompting countries to focus urgently on securing new sources. The organisation that oversees the UK's electricity grid has said that planned blackouts might be needed th

Facing an economic crisis, is the UK turning into an emerging market?

The Truss government's two most problematic policies are the tax cuts for the wealthy and the energy subsidies

Why Liz Truss is visiting Scotland to formally pledge as UK Prime Minister

Liz Truss, a onetime accountant who has served in Parliament for the past 12 years, will become Britain's prime minister on Tuesday when Queen Elizabeth II formally asks her to form a government. The ceremony, which will take place at a royal residence in Scotland, follows a bruising two-month contest to succeed Boris Johnson, who will formally offer his resignation to the queen shortly before Truss arrives to take up the mantle. The handover of power is governed by rules and traditions built up over the centuries, as the U.K. evolved from an absolute monarchy to a modern parliamentary democracy where the sovereign plays an important but largely ceremonial role as head of state. Here is a brief description of Tuesday's events and how Britain arrived at this point. HOW DID LIZ TRUSS BECOME PRIME MINISTER? Boris Johnson announced his intention to step down as prime minister and leader of the ruling Conservative Party on July 7, after dozens of Cabinet ministers and lower-level offic

Liz Truss to take charge as new UK PM; set to unveil key Cabinet posts

Liz Truss, the new Conservative Party leader who beat former chancellor Rishi Sunak to replace Boris Johnson, will take charge as Britain's new Prime Minister on Tuesday after an audience with the Queen in Scotland. The 47-year-old foreign secretary, who follows Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May as the third female leader of the Tory party, will travel to the 96-year-old monarch's Balmoral Castle residence in Aberdeenshire to become the first leader of the majority party to not be invited to form a government at Buckingham Palace in London. Following her royal audience, soon after Johnson submits his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II, Truss will be flown right back to 10 Downing Street in London to deliver her inaugural speech as the Prime Minister before going on to unveil some key Cabinet posts. Attorney General Suella Braverman is expected to be the only Indian-origin MP in her top team, as the Goan-origin former leadership contender is expected to be promoted to replace Priti ..

Rishi Sunak pledges to work 'night and day' as UK PM race enters finale

Rishi Sunak pledged to work "night and day" for the best country in the world as the election campaign to take over from Boris Johnson as the Conservative Party leader and the new British Prime Minister entered its final stage on Wednesday, with the very last hustings event set for London. Sunak reiterated his vision statement as the first British Indian to run for the top job at 10 Downing Street ahead of the final campaign event scheduled at a popular concert venue in Wembley on Wednesday evening. The former Chancellor will go head-to-head with his rival Foreign Secretary Liz Truss for one last time as they fight it out for any remaining Tory members yet to cast their ballots before voting closes on Friday evening. The 42-year-old former finance minister, who has focussed his campaign message on the urgency of getting a grip on inflation and countered 47-year-old Truss' claims that tax cuts are the answer to address the cost-of-living crisis crippling the UK economy, made a ...

Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss? Tories shouldn't write off 'Trussonomics' yet

According to a recent YouGov poll, 62% of them want Truss for leader, giving her a colossal 24-point advantage over Sunak

Rishi Sunak's tax affairs back in spotlight in UK race to succeed Johnson

Sunak's tax arrangements were in the spotlight once again as he sought to position himself as the only candidate who could beat Labour leader Keir Starmer at the next general election

Rishi Sunak vows to work 'night and day' in campaign to be UK PM

Former UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak has vowed to work night and day as he began the last leg of his campaign on Thursday to win over the Conservative Party membership

Clashes, bidding, rigging: Vote to pick final 2 in UK PM race heats up

The hottest day in history may be over but the heat of the Conservative Party leadership battle intensified on Wednesday as Tory lawmakers cast their last round of votes to finalise last 2 candidates

British foreign secretary Liz Truss to run for prime ministership

Truss said she would cut taxes and maintain a tough line against Russian President Vladimir Putin

British PM Boris Johnson back in office after minor sinus surgery

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had an operation on his sinuses under general anaesthetic on Monday, his office said. Johnson's spokesman, Max Blain, said the prime minister was back at his 10 Downing Street home and resting after the routine procedure. He said the operation had been scheduled in advance and was performed by medics working for the state-funded National Health Service at a London hospital. Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab filled in for Johnson during the operation. Johnson was hospitalised in intensive care with the coronavirus in April 2020. Blain said Monday's procedure was unrelated to COVID-19. Johnson, 58, is due to travel to a Commonwealth conference in Rwanda later this week and to attend Group of Seven and NATO summits later this month.

Political foes revel in UK PM Boris Johnson's woes in Parliament

A defiant British Prime Minister Boris Johnson insisted Wednesday that he is getting on with his job, as he faced Parliament for the first time

Chelsea reach final agreement for sale of club to Boehly-led consortium

The takeover is expected to be completed on Monday