Page 13 - Uk

EAM discusses Indian communities' welfare in UK with British counterpart

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar shared his concerns about the security and welfare of the Indian community in the UK with his British counterpart James Cleverly and welcomed his assurances on the same. "A warm conversation with UK Foreign Secretary @JamesCleverly. Discussed taking forward Roadmap 2030. Appreciate his commitment to deepening our partnership," Jaishankar tweeted Wednesday. He said his conversation also covered global issues, including Indo-Pacific, Ukraine and UNSC matters. "Shared my concern about the security and welfare of the Indian community in the UK. Welcomed his assurances in that regard," Jaishankar said. In his meeting with Bolivia Foreign Minister Rogelio Mayta, Jaishankar said he spoke about "our development partnership and expanding our economic engagement. Exchanged views on global developments." After his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Anniken Huitfeldt, Jaishankar said he appreciated "our ongoing cooperation in the UN Secur

UK official thanks India for 'senior representation' at Queen's funeral

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has expressed gratitude for the representation by Indian President Droupadi Murmu at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, saying it was really noticed. President Murmu attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on Monday morning. "I would like to say a huge thank you for the very very senior representation that India sent to Her Majesty the Queen's funeral. I had the opportunity to meet President Murmu and it was really noticed," Cleverly told PTI in an interview here on Wednesday on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session. Cleverly, the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom under the new administration of Prime Minister Liz Truss, also met his Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar late on Wednesday evening at the sidelines of the UNGA. During her three-day visit to London, Murmu visited Westminster Hall and offered tributes

PM Modi has an influential global voice, we welcome his intervention: UK

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a powerful, influential voice on the world stage and the Russian leadership respects India's position on the global arena, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said, emphasising that London hopes President Vladimir Putin listens to those voices who are calling for peace amid the Ukraine conflict. Cleverly was responding to a question on the Russian-Ukraine conflict and Modi telling Putin last week on the sidelines of the 22nd meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Uzbekistan's Samarkand that "today's era is not of war". "Prime Minister Modi has a powerful, influential voice on the world stage. We know the Russian leadership respects India's voice and position on the world stage. I think Prime Minister Modi's intervention is very, very welcome. And we really hope that Vladimir Putin listens to those voices who are calling for peace and for de-escalation. So we very much welcome Prime Minister Modi's intervention," Cleverly told PTI in a

US prez Biden, UK PM Truss seek to smooth over Northern Ireland divide

US President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Liz Truss declared themselves staunch allies Wednesday as they tried to patch up a divide over Brexit's impact on peace in Northern Ireland. The leaders met at the United Nations two days after they attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in London, and Britain hopes the global goodwill toward the late queen will help smooth out bumps in relations with the US and other allies caused by the UK's departure from the European Union. The US, in particular, is concerned that Brexit has rattled the foundations of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord that ended 30 years of sectarian violence. We are both committed to protecting the Good Friday Agreement of Northern Ireland, and I'm looking forward to hearing what's on your mind, Biden said at the start of the meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York. Truss said she was looking forward to discussing the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and how we make sure that's upheld into the future. Truss

Want India to play active part in world befittting its economic heft: UK

India is an incredibly important player on the world stage and London wants to see it play the full and active part in the global arena in line with its size, economic heft and influence, UK Foreign secretary James Cleverly has said. Reiterating support for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council, he underlined that long-standing institutions like the United Nations need to evolve to ensure its future is as influential as its past. "The United Nations, like all long-standing and important institutions, needs to evolve to make sure that its future is as influential as its recent past. India is an incredibly important player on the global stage in so many ways," Cleverly told PTI in an exclusive interview here on Wednesday on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session. Cleverly said the UK was the first of the five permanent members of the Security Council, which also comprise China, France, Russia and the US, to call for India to have a permanent seat o

UK's PM Liz Truss slams Putin for turmoil, hails queen in debut UNGA speech

British Prime Minister Liz Truss has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of making "saber-rattling threats" to cover his failed invasion of Ukraine, as she prepared to tell the United Nations that its founding principles were fracturing because of aggression by authoritarian states. In her debut speech to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday night, Truss will call the war in Ukraine a battle for "our values and the security of the whole world," and extol the late Queen Elizabeth II as a symbol of everything the U.N. stands for. The text of the speech was released in advance by Truss' office. Responding to a statement from Putin that he was mobilizing reservists and would use everything at his disposal to protect Russia an apparent reference to his nuclear arsenal -- Truss accused the Russian leader of "desperately trying to justify his catastrophic failures". "He is doubling down by sending even more reservists to a terrible fate," the speech said. "He is desperately trying t

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II tests positive after UK monarch's funeral

Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has tested positive for the coronavirus after attending the funeral of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the royal palace said Wednesday. In a statement, the royal household said that Margrethe, 82, who has been on the throne for 50 years, cancelled her official duties after the Tuesday night test. The palace said her oldest son, heir to the throne Crown Prince Frederik, and his wife, Crown Princess Mary, would take the queen's place hosting a dinner with Danish government officials and members of parliament. Margrethe previously tested positive for the virus in February. At the time, the palace said she had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The queen was among the dignitaries who attended Queen Elizabeth II's funeral Monday at Westminster Abbey in London. Margrethe's half-century reign makes her Europe's longest-serving monarch following the Sept. 8 death of Elizabeth, 96, who ruled for 70 years. Out of respect for the late British monarch, ...

UK police make 47 arrests to deter further disorder in Leicester

The UK police said on Tuesday that they have made 47 arrests as part of an ongoing operation to deter further disorder in the eastern England city of Leicester, which saw scenes of violence over the weekend. The development comes as the Indian High Commission in London issued a strongly worded statement condemning the violence against the Indian community and called for protection for those affected. Leicestershire Police said a 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon during clashes in the city. Amos Noronha, from the local area, appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court after his arrest during Saturday's incident and was quickly charged due to "overwhelming evidence". "The sentence is reflective of the fact that this was a serious offence and he has ended up with time in prison, said Rob Nixon, Temporary Chief Constable at Leicestershire Police. "We will not stand for this unrest in our city. There is a

UK PM Liz Truss says she'll slash taxes despite economic crisis

UK Prime Minister Liz Truss said Tuesday that she's ready to make unpopular decisions such as boosting bonuses for wealthy bankers in order to get the country's sluggish economy growing. Speaking before an emergency government budget statement on Friday, Truss said tax cuts were key to spurring economic growth, even though they benefit the wealthiest more than the poorest. We do have to take difficult decisions to get our economy right, Truss said. We have to look at our tax rates. So corporation tax needs to be competitive with other countries so that we can attract that investment. Truss, who has been prime minister for just two weeks a period overshadowed by the death of Queen Elizabeth II faces immediate pressure to deliver on her promises to tackle a cost-of-living crisis walloping the UK and an economy heading into a potentially lengthy recession. She has already announced a cap on household energy bills that means average costs for heating and electricity will be no more t

Flags back at full mast as UK's state mourning for Queen concludes

The UK's 10-day state mourning came to an end with national flags back at full mast across government buildings on Tuesday, a day after Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in London and a private burial ceremony in Windsor. The royal family will continue to observe another week of mourning announced by King Charles III, who flew to Scotland with Queen Consort Camilla for a period of private mourning. Senior royals are not expected to carry out any public duties during the extended mourning period and the flags at royal residences will remain at half-mast till next Tuesday. The Queen, Britain's longest-serving monarch, died peacefully at her Balmoral Castle residence in Scotland on September 8. She was laid to rest beside her late husband, Prince Philip, in a private burial service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The government said over 250,000 people had turned out to queue for many hours over the past week to file past the Queen Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall ahead of

More than 250,000 people saw Queen Elizabeth II's lying in state: Report

An estimated over 250,000 people saw British Queen Elizabeth II lying in state in London when her coffin was displayed for public viewing for a little over four days before the funeral, according to a report on Tuesday. The Queen died aged 96 at her Balmoral estate in Scotland on September 8. People queued 24 hours a day from late Wednesday until 6.30 am on Monday, the day of the Queen's funeral, to see her coffin in Westminster Hall. The line stretched from parliament along the south bank of the Thames and past Tower Bridge to Southwark Park. Culture secretary Michelle Donelan told Sky News that more than a quarter of a million "went through parliament" but that it was an approximate figure and the government is still "crunching the final numbers". The mayor of London's office said an estimated 80,000 were in Hyde Park, 75,000 in ceremonial viewing areas and 60,000 on South Carriage Drive. Overall numbers were much higher as crowds formed on virtually the entire route to Windsor

British PM Liz Truss says queen's death is 'difficult moment' for UK

British Prime Minister Liz Truss says the death of Queen Elizabeth II is a very difficult moment for the country, and acknowledged that dealing with it has been a challenge for her untested new government. Truss took office just two days before the queen died on Sept 8, and the first days of her term have been spent attending memorial services and the funeral of Britain's longest-reigning monarch. Truss has had to temporarily set aside her policy plans, and said she was focused on making sure we as a nation mourn her late majesty and welcome King Charles. It has been a momentous period and a period of great grief and sadness in the United Kingdom, and I think you have seen a huge outpouring of love and affection for her late majesty as well as a huge amount of warmth towards King Charles III, Truss told reporters late Monday as she flew to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. At the funeral we saw such huge public support and I have also seen that from world lead

After historic funeral, Queen Elizabeth II buried at St George's Chapel

After a majestic funeral service at Westminster Abbey, Queen Elizabeth II's coffin was interred alongside her husband, late Prince Philip, at a private burial at St. George's Chapel on Monday evening. "The Queen was buried together with the Duke of Edinburgh, at The King George VI Memorial Chapel," the Buckingham Palace stated on the official Royal Family website. Earlier, the roughly 40-km route by road from Westminster Abbey in London, the site of a grand state funeral attended by thousands earlier in the day, to Windsor included the coffin processing by state gun carriage and then in the state hearse, a customised Jaguar, to the steps of the chapel. Thousands lined the streets on the route of this final procession, which Buckingham Palace said had been drawn up with the public in mind, and the Order of Service for the Committal Service was discussed with the late monarch over a number of years. "We have come together to commit into the hands of God the soul of his servant Queen

UK and world bid final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II at historic funeral

The UK observed a two-minute silence in a poignant nationwide tribute as a final farewell to the country's longest serving monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, at the conclusion of a majestic state funeral ceremony at Westminster Abbey here, attended by thousands and witnessed by millions on screens worldwide. The UK's National Anthem, God Save the King', rang out as the coffin was lifted out for the last leg of the journey to the late monarch's final resting place at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, where a Committal Service will conclude the public-facing aspect of the funeral before a private burial ceremony on Monday evening. The Queen's final resting place will be by the side of her late husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, in an enclave of the historic chapel on her south-east England estate of Windsor. The state funeral began as chimes of the Big Ben fell silent and hymns rang out as the coffin of the late monarch was carried into Westminster Abbey on Monday morning. In the ..

US Prez Joe Biden arrives in London for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral

US President Joe Biden has arrived in London to pay his respects to Queen Elizabeth II. The president was expected to sign the official condolence book and attend a reception Sunday at Buckingham Palace hosted by King Charles III before attending the queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey on Monday. Biden is among many world leaders travelling to the United Kingdom to honour Queen Elizabeth's long reign. Biden and first lady Jill Biden were greeted at the airport by UK Ambassador Jane Hartley, Lord Lieutenant of Essex Jennifer Tolhurst and others. After the queen's death, Biden issued a proclamation directing that all American flags be flown at half staff as a mark of respect for the memory of Queen Elizabeth II until sunset on the day of her interment. Before coming to London, he spoke with the king to offer his condolences and went to the British Embassy as well.

King Charles III pledges additional duty to protect faith diversity in UK

King Charles III has pledged to uphold the additional duty as a new monarch of protecting the diversity of the UK and be a sovereign of all communities around the Commonwealth. Addressing a group of faith leaders on Friday evening in the Bow Room at Buckingham Palace, where just days before his mother Queen Elizabeth II's coffin lay in rest before its final journey to Westminster Hall, the 73-year-old royal said he has always thought of Britain as a community of communities. As a committed Anglican Christian, Charles said he believed in protecting the space for all faiths, building on the foundation laid by his beloved mother. I have always thought of Britain as a community of communities, the King said in an address to around 30 faith leaders invited to the palace. That has led me to understand that the sovereign has an additional duty less formally recognised but to be no less diligently discharged. It is the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting

Chinese govt delegation banned from Queen's Lying-in-State in UK: Report

The UK has refused permission for a high-level Chinese government delegation to attend Queen Elizabeth's Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall within the Parliament complex before the funeral at Westminster Abbey here on September 19, according to UK media reports on Friday. House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is said to have refused a request for access to Westminster Hall due to Chinese sanctions against five British members of Parliament and two peers for accusing Beijing of mistreating its Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang, Politico' and the BBC have reported. While the House of Commons said it did not comment on security matters, the media reports claimed that China would have a presence at the funeral but not be allowed into the Parliament building. As Westminster Hall forms part of the parliamentary estate, it is under the control of the Commons and the Lords Speakers. The move is likely to further strain UK-China relations, which have been under some pressure in recent

Queen Elizabeth's funeral 'will unite' world as mourners queue for miles

Grandeur of Elizabeth's state funeral revealed; people queue for hours to file past coffin; list of attendees for funeral grows

Google faces $25.4-bn damages claims in UK, Dutch over adtech practices

Google's adtech has recently drawn scrutiny from antitrust regulators following complaints from publishers.

Queen Elizabeth's death gives us a chance to remember English perfidies

There is no atrocity the English have not committed, yet they are well regarded by those whom they tortured and pauperised