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Tag: britain

  • Hindujas, UK’s Richest Family, Challenges Swiss Court Jail Sentences, Denies Human Trafficking |

    The Hindujas, Britain’s wealthiest family, on Friday said they were apalled by a Swiss court’s decision to impose jail sentences on some members in Geneva. They have filed an appeal in a higher court to challenge the verdict that found them guilty of exploiting vulnerable domestic workers.

    A statement released by the family’s Swiss lawyers emphasized that their clients—Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, both in their seventies, and their son Ajay along with his wife Namrata—were cleared of all human trafficking charges. They also refuted reports suggesting any family members were facing imprisonment, despite court reports from Geneva indicating sentences of four to four and a half years.

    The statement, signed by lawyers Yael Hayat, Robert Assael, and Roman Jordan, declared, “Our clients have been acquitted of all human trafficking charges. We are dismayed by the remaining decision of this first-instance court, and have naturally filed an appeal to the higher court, rendering this portion of the judgment non-effective.”

    They further clarified, “According to Swiss law, the presumption of innocence remains until a final judgment by the supreme adjudicating body is executed. Contrary to certain media claims, no family members are currently detained.”

    The lawyers also noted that the plaintiffs had retracted their complaints, affirming to the court their lack of intention to be involved in such legal actions.

    Concluding the statement, they expressed, “The family trusts the legal system and is confident that the truth will emerge victorious.”

    This announcement came after a session in Geneva, where prosecutors initiated proceedings for alleged illicit activities, including exploitation, human trafficking, and breaches of Swiss labor laws, against the family members who were charged with confiscating workers’ passports and preventing them from leaving.

  • Infected Blood Scandal: What Is UK’s Biggest Health Blunder That Made PM Rishi Sunak Say Apology? , world news

    The United Kingdom has recently come out of the months-long strike by the healthcare workers. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is already facing several challenges including taking the economy out of crisis and containing inflation. Now, a decades-old case has created a storm in Britain and has even forced Sunak to apologize for the same. The issue is ‘infected blood scandal’ that took place during 1980s. The worst part is that the health authorities tried to cover up the incident which resulted in multiple deaths.

    What is infected blood scandal?

    An inquiry report in the case has concluded that over 30,000 people received blood infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis. The Infected Blood Inquiry concluded that tainted blood was given between 1970s and 1990s to patients who needed blood transfusions for blood disorders such as haemophilia, accidents and surgery among others.

    The report said that around 3,000 people have died so far due to infected blood and more deaths may follow. The incident has been described as the biggest treatment disaster in the United Kingdom.

    Rishi Sunak Reacts

    Reacting to the shocking report, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak apologised to the House of Commons. Sunak termed the findings of the long-awaited report ‘a day of shame for the British state’. “Time and again people in positions of power and trust had the chance to stop the transmission of those infections and failed to do so”, said Sunak.

    On behalf of this and every Government stretching back to the 1970s, I am truly sorry. pic.twitter.com/eFQBPIvdBk — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 20, 2024

    The Prime Minister also announced compensation measures for the victims. As per reports, the total compensation may cost the UK government over 10 billion pounds ($12 billion).

  • King Charles III’s particular Coronation cash input movement in UK

    A different 50 pence coin created to mark King Charles III’s Coronation in Might will begin to seem in movement throughout the United Kingdom from Thursday.

    Britain’s Royal Mint mentioned the Put up Workplace and financial institution branches all through the rustic will obtain 5 million 50p cash, which function a design to have fun the 74-year-old British monarch’s Coronation on Might 6.

    That is the second one 50p to go into movement bearing the King’s legit coin portrait, the primary being a memorial coin which entered movement in December final 12 months to mark the ancient transition from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III.

    “This can be a particular second for the country, as contributors of the general public will have the option to discover a piece of historical past of their trade,” mentioned Rebecca Morgan, Director of Commemorative Coin on the Royal Mint.

    “We watch for the Coronation 50p cash shall be extremely wanted amongst coin creditors and contributors of the general public willing to possess a work of British historical past. The Royal Mint has had the respect of putting cash for each and every British monarch since Alfred the Nice and we’re proud to proceed that lengthy historical past with the creation of His Majesty’s legit coinage,” she mentioned.

    The opposite or tails facet of the brand new 50p, designed by means of Royal Mint Coin Clothier Natasha Jenkins, options the ancient Westminster Abbey in London, in a nod to the site of the King’s Coronation. On the centre of the design is the King’s legit cypher, representing him on the Abbey being topped the monarch.

    The obverse or heads facet of the 50p options the King’s legit coin portrait, which was once unveiled in September final 12 months and designed by means of famend British sculptor Martin Jennings and for my part licensed by means of Charles.

    All 50p cash coming into movement will function the King’s uncrowned portrait, differing from the commemorative Coronation cash that had been unveiled to the general public previous this 12 months.

    Previous this 12 months, the Royal Mint unveiled a commemorative coin vary marking the King’s Coronation which it says has proved well-liked around the globe and noticed creditors from 89 international locations buying them.

    All UK cash bearing the effigy of Charles’ mom, the past due Queen Elizabeth II, will stay criminal smooth and in lively movement. Traditionally, it’s been not unusual for cash that includes the effigies of various monarchs to co-circulate in the United Kingdom. This guarantees a easy transition, with minimum environmental affect and value.

    There are roughly 27 billion cash these days circulating in the United Kingdom bearing the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II. Those shall be changed over the years as they grow to be broken or worn and to fulfill call for for extra cash, the Royal Mint mentioned.

    Revealed On:

    Aug 11, 2023

  • UK govt’s contested Rwanda asylum plan set to grow to be legislation

    By way of Reuters: British High Minister Rishi Sunak’s extremely contested plan to enable you ship asylum seekers to Rwanda is ready to grow to be legislation after the federal government defeated makes an attempt via parliament’s higher space to make adjustments to the law.

    The Unlawful Migration Invoice have been caught in a fight between Parliament’s Space of Commons and the Space of Lords, Britain’s unelected higher chamber, which had time and again made adjustments to the law to water it down.

    Within the early hours of Tuesday, the final of the ones proposed adjustments was once voted down. It might probably now opt for Royal Assent, the place it’s officially authorized via the king and turns into legislation.

    The plan to deport asylum seekers has been criticised via some opposition politicians, legal professionals, and civil rights teams as inhumane, merciless and useless.

    ALSO READ | Blow to Rishi Sunak as UK courtroom announces govt’s Rwanda asylum plan illegal

    UN human rights leader Volker Turk stated on Tuesday the invoice’s passage raises “very severe prison considerations” and units “a being worried precedent for dismantling asylum-related responsibilities” that different nations might apply.

    On the other hand, deportation flights to Rwanda are not going to begin till subsequent 12 months on the earliest and can nonetheless hinge on a ruling via the Best Courtroom on their legality later this 12 months.

    The brand new law is on the middle of the federal government’s pledge to prevent asylum seekers from making the harmful crossing from France to the southern coast of England on small, regularly unseaworthy boats.

    It is going to save you most of the people from claiming asylum in Britain with out permission and can deport them both to their nation of foundation or a so-called protected nation like Rwanda.

    A few of the amendments proposed and in the end defeated within the Lords was once a requirement for shorter deadlines at the detention of unaccompanied kids, better protections for sufferers of contemporary slavery, and six-month delays within the deportation of migrants.

    Britain struck an preliminary 140-million-pound ($180 million) maintain the East African nation final 12 months however the coverage has been tied up within the courts. The primary deliberate Rwanda deportation flight was once blocked a 12 months in the past in a last-minute ruling via the Eu Courtroom of Human Rights.

    The passage of the invoice coincided with the arriving of a barge to accommodate migrants off the southern coast of England. The federal government has defended the usage of barges, insisting this is a inexpensive selection to lodges.

    Remaining 12 months, a report 45,755 other folks got here to Britain in small boats around the Channel, principally from France. Greater than 12,000 have arrived this 12 months, a charge very similar to 2022.

    ALSO READ | ‘Sufficient is sufficient’: UK PM pronounces crackdown on unlawful immigration

  • Australia’s nuclear submarine plan to price as much as $245 billion via 2055 -defence authentic

    US nuclear-powered submarines will talk over with Western Australia extra steadily this yr, with British submarines making port visits beginning in 2026.

    Canberra,UPDATED: Mar 14, 2023 09:22 IST

    Joe Biden participates in a bilateral assembly with Australian High Minister Anthony Albanesein San Diego, California. (Reuters)

    Through Reuters:

    Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine programme with america and Britain will value as much as A$368 billion ($245 billion) over the following 3 a long time, a defence authentic stated on Tuesday, the rustic’s largest unmarried defence undertaking in historical past.

    US President Joe Biden, Australian High Minister Anthony Albanese and British High Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday unveiled main points of a plan to supply Australia with nuclear-powered assault submarines, a big step to counter China’s naval build-up within the Indo-Pacific.

    Albanese stated the programme would get started with a A$6 billion ($4 billion) funding over the following 4 years to increase a big submarine base and the rustic’s submarine shipyards, in addition to educate professional employees.

    “This can be an Australian sovereign capacity – constructed via Australians, commanded via the Royal Australian Military and sustained via Australian employees in Australian shipyards,” Albanese stated in San Diego, California.

    “The dimensions, complexity and financial importance of the funding is comparable to the advent of the Australian car business within the post-war length,” Albanese added.

    Australia may also supply A$3 billion to increase shipbuilding capability within the U.S. and Britain, with the majority of the cash destined to hurry up manufacturing of U.S. Virginia-class submarines.

    The full value of the submarine program is estimated to be A$268 billion to A$368 billion via 2055, or more or less 0.15% of gross home product in step with yr, a defence authentic instructed Reuters.

    The fee tag comes to the price of development submarines in addition to related infrastructure and coaching, and the programme would create 20,000 jobs in Australia over 3 a long time.

    Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers stated the verdict was once “a game-changing funding” as the federal government, within the face of mounting drive at the federal price range and chronic deficits, fielded questions at the price ticket.

    “Australia cannot have the funds for now not to do that … it is going to be value each and every cent relating to our nationwide safety, our nationwide economic system,” Chalmers instructed journalists.

    Opposition chief Peter Dutton, who was once the defence minister when AUKUS was once introduced in 2021, stated he would make stronger the submarine deal “come hell or excessive water”.

    Britain will construct the primary SSN-AUKUS boat, as the brand new category of submarines has been dubbed. The primary Australian-built boat can be delivered in 2042, and one can be constructed each and every 3 years till the fleet reaches 8.

    Australian submarine building will happen within the state of South Australia, the place A$2 billion can be spent on infrastructure, developing 4,000 jobs, with some other 5,500 direct shipyard jobs on the top of building. The federal government stated that was once double the staff expected for a scrapped plan to construct French-designed typical submarines.

    A naval base in Perth would be the house for the brand new submarine fleet, upgraded at a price of A$8 billion over a decade and producing 3,000 jobs, paperwork and statements launched via Australia on Tuesday confirmed.

    US nuclear-powered submarines will talk over with Western Australia extra steadily this yr, with British submarines making port visits beginning in 2026.

    From 2027 the Perth base, HMAS Stirling, can be host to a rotational presence of British and U.S. nuclear-powered submarines to construct Australia’s revel in.

    Australia will arrange all radioactive waste regionally, with the Defence Division opting for a web site for the garage of high-level waste this yr, defence officers stated.

    “Sure, it’s an eye-watering price ticket, however the choice is a fair heavier value to Australia’s safety and sovereignty down the monitor,” stated Australian Strategic Coverage institute government director Justin Bassi.

    Printed On:

    Mar 14, 2023

  • UK PM Sunak: China poses a risk however should additionally have interaction with them

    Top Minister Rishi Sunak stated on Tuesday that China posed a risk to Britain however it was once additionally proper to have discussion with Beijing over world demanding situations corresponding to local weather alternate and the battle in Ukraine.

    “I’m very transparent that China poses a systemic problem to each our values and our pursuits and it represents the one largest state risk to our financial safety and that’s why it’s proper that we take the stairs which can be vital to offer protection to ourselves,” he informed Sky Information at the sidelines of the G20.

    Sunak additionally stated he was once hopeful he may just meet with Chinese language President Xi Jinping whilst on the summit in Indonesia.

    “If we need to clear up giant world demanding situations like public well being, Russia and Ukraine, solving the worldwide financial system, or certainly local weather alternate, it’s essential to have a discussion and to have interaction with China as a part of fixing the ones demanding situations,” Sunak stated.

  • Embattled UK chief Liz Truss insists she’s ‘no longer a quitter’

    British Top Minister Liz Truss described herself as “a fighter and no longer a quitter” Wednesday as she confronted down a adversarial opposition and fury from her personal Conservative Celebration over her botched financial plan.

    But the bleak faces of Conservative lawmakers at the back of her within the Space of Commons recommended that Truss faces an uphill fight to avoid wasting her process.

    Truss attended her first consultation of Top Minister’s Questions since newly appointed Treasury leader Jeremy Hunt ripped up the tax-cutting package deal unveiled via her new govt not up to a month in the past.

    She apologized to Parliament and admitted she had made errors all the way through her brief tenure because the U.Ok.’s head of presidency, however insisted that via converting path she had “taken duty and made the correct selections within the pastime of the rustic’s financial balance.”

    Opposition lawmakers shouted “Surrender!” as she spoke.

    Requested via opposition Labour Celebration chief Keir Starmer, “Why is she nonetheless right here?” Truss retorted: “I’m a fighter and no longer a quitter. I’ve acted within the nationwide pastime to make certain that we have now financial balance.”

    A package deal of unfunded tax cuts that Truss’ govt introduced on Sept. 23 sparked turmoil on monetary markets, hammering the price of the pound and extending the price of U.Ok. govt borrowing. The Financial institution of England was once compelled to intrude to forestall the disaster from spreading to the broader financial system and hanging pension budget in danger.

    Underneath intense political and financial power, Truss final week fired her best friend Kwasi Kwarteng as Treasury leader, changing him with Cupboard veteran Hunt. On Monday Hunt scrapped virtually all of Truss’ tax cuts, along side her flagship power coverage and her promise of no public spending cuts. He mentioned the federal government will want to save billions of kilos and there are “many tricky selections” to be made ahead of he units out a medium-term fiscal plan on Oct. 31.

    Professional figures launched Wednesday confirmed U.Ok. inflation rose to ten.1% in September, returning to a 40-year prime first hit in July, because the hovering value of meals squeezed family budgets. Whilst inflation is prime world wide — pushed up via Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its impact on power provides — polls display maximum Britons blame the federal government for the rustic’s financial ache.

    Fighters additionally accuse the Conservative govt of sowing chaos via flip-flopping on coverage. On Wednesday, Truss reassured retirees that pensions would proceed to upward thrust consistent with inflation — not up to 24 hours after her spokesman mentioned the federal government was once making an allowance for putting off the pricy pledge because it seeks to chop public spending.

    With opinion polls giving the Labour Celebration a big and rising lead, many Conservatives now imagine their best hope of averting electoral oblivion is to switch Truss. However she insists she isn’t stepping down, and legislators are divided about how you can eliminate her.

    New Overseas Secretary James Cleverly advised Conservatives to offer Truss any other likelihood, announcing “errors occur.”

    “What you’ve were given to do is acknowledge once they’ve came about and feature humility to make adjustments while you see issues didn’t move proper,” he mentioned.

    Truss faces any other take a look at in Parliament later Wednesday when lawmakers vote on a Labour Celebration movement looking for to prohibit fracking for shale fuel — a coverage that Truss just lately authorized.

    Conservative Celebration whips mentioned the vote could be handled as “a self assurance movement within the govt,” which means the federal government would fall if the movement handed, triggering an election. The Conservatives’ 70-plus majority makes that not likely, however the vote will probably be carefully watched for indicators of dissent about Truss’ management.

    Truss’ press secretary mentioned the top minister was once “no longer resigning” and was once in a “decided” temper.

    A countrywide election does no longer need to be held till 2024. Truss on Wednesday perceived to rule out calling an early election, announcing “what’s essential is we paintings in combination … to get via this wintry weather and offer protection to the financial system.”

    Underneath Conservative Celebration laws, Truss is secure from a management problem for a 12 months, however the laws may also be modified if sufficient lawmakers need it. There may be fevered hypothesis about what number of lawmakers have already submitted letters calling for a no-confidence vote.

    Some Conservative legislators imagine Truss may well be compelled to renounce if the birthday celebration has the same opinion on a successor.

    As but, there’s no front-runner. Truss’ defeated Conservative management rival Rishi Sunak, Space of Commons chief Penny Mordaunt and standard Protection Secretary Ben Wallace all have supporters, as does Hunt, who many see because the de facto top minister already.

    Some even desire the go back of Boris Johnson, who was once ousted in the summertime after changing into enmeshed in ethics scandals.

    Cleverly mentioned he understood why colleagues had been offended, however mentioned “defenestrating any other top minister” was once the mistaken factor to do.

  • BLACKPINK Turns into First Ok-pop Woman Team To Most sensible Britain’s Albums Chart

    Seoul: BLACKPINK has crowned the albums phase of Britain’s Authentic Chart with its newest paintings, ‘Born Red’. It has thus grow to be the primary Ok-pop lady staff to assert the belt at the maximum celebrated track chart in Britain, its company mentioned, stories Yonhap.Additionally Learn – Queen Elizabeth II’s Funeral As of late: Global Leaders, Dignitaries, Anticipated Crowd of Over 2 Million to Attend

    The lady staff’s 2d full-length album, which was once launched on September 16, beat albums via Suede, Rina Sawayama and different world pop stars at the Authentic Albums Chart on Friday (BST), YG Leisure mentioned. Additionally Learn – Queen Elizabeth II Dying Date Used to be Predicted Via Twitter Consumer; Similar Individual Foretold One thing ‘Bizarre’ In Similar Tweet | Learn Right here

    The album’s lead tune, ‘Close Down’, and the observe ‘Red Venom’ positioned twenty fourth and thirty eighth, respectively, at the Authentic Singles Chart. Additionally Learn – BTS ARMY Is going Bonkers as Jin Aka Kim Seok-jin Heads For US Amid Rumours of Solo Debut

    Sooner than BLACKPINK, boy band BTS was once the one Ok-pop artiste to best the Authentic Albums Chart. In 2020, BLACKPINK’s first full-length album, ‘The Album’, was once positioned at No. 2 at the identical chart.

    Amongst Ok-pop singles, ‘Gangnam Taste’ via Ok-pop solo artiste Psy claimed the highest spot at the Authentic Singles Chart in 2012.

  • India condemns ‘violence perpetrated in opposition to Indian neighborhood in Leicester’

    In a press liberate posted on its reliable Twitter take care of, the Prime Fee of India, London, stated: “We have now strongly taken up this subject with the United Kingdom government and feature sought rapid motion in opposition to the ones inquisitive about those assaults.”

    Press Unlock: Prime Fee of India, London condemns the violence in Leicester. @MIB_India percent.twitter.com/acrW3kHsTl

    — India in the United Kingdom (@HCI_London) September 19, 2022

    Over the last 24 hours, media in the UK had been reporting on “large-scale” and “severe” dysfunction within the English town of Leicester to the northwest of London after boulevard clashes between extensive teams of Hindus and Muslims.

    In keeping with media studies, hassle began after the Aug 28 India-Pakistan cricket fit and escalated over the weekend.

    Hindu Mandir Vandalised in Leicester via Muslim neighborhood enthusiasts. They have got burt the non secular flags and feature been seeking to stay Hindus hostage within incluing sons and daughters. Vehicles and different Hindu owned homes had been toppled and vandalised too. percent.twitter.com/3OyC10ndeQ

    — Rashmi Samant (@RashmiDVS) September 18, 2022

    Reviews circulating on social media claimed the spark this weekend used to be a protest march, with pictures appearing police making an attempt to carry again two units of crowds as gadgets reminiscent of glass bottles had been thrown, and a few folks may well be noticed wearing sticks and batons.

    “We have now had a lot of studies of a virus of dysfunction in portions of the east Leicester house of town,” Leicestershire Police transient leader constable Rob Nixon stated in a Twitter video.

    (With inputs from PTI)

  • Queen Elizabeth II funeral are living updates: State funeral for Britain’s longest-serving monarch to start out at 3.30 pm

    Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch died on September 8, 2022, after 70 years at the throne. (AP)

    Top Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro, French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, Vice President of China Wang Qishan, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern, Australian PM Anthony Albanese, and South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol are anticipated to wait the funeral.

    Britain has invited heads of state or a consultant at an ambassadorial stage from any nation with which it has complete diplomatic members of the family. International locations that experience no longer been invited come with Syria and Venezuela as a result of London does no longer these days have customary diplomatic members of the family with the ones states. Britain has additionally no longer invited representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed financial sanctions on the ones international locations.

    Prince Andrew, Queen Elizabeth’s 2d son, paid tribute to his mom on Sunday, announcing he would treasure eternally her love, compassion, care and self belief. Addressing his observation to “Mummy, Mom, Your Majesty”, reflecting the 3 roles he mentioned Elizabeth had fulfilled throughout her 70-year reign, Andrew, the Duke of York, mentioned he would leave out her “insights, recommendation and humour”. “Mummy, your love for a son, your compassion, your care, your self belief I can treasure eternally,” he mentioned.

    2,000 dignitaries and visitors are anticipated to reach at Westminster Abbey for the state funeral, starting from King Charles III and different royals to global leaders together with U.S. President Joe Biden to individuals of the British public who helped combat the COVID-19 pandemic. 5,949 army team of workers were deployed all over the meticulously choreographed operation that started with the queen’s dying. That quantity contains 4,416 from the military, 847 from the military and 686 from the air power. As well as, round 175 military team of workers from Commonwealth international locations were concerned.