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☆ Photographer Platon sits presidents and protesters on the same wooden box
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Caitlin Chatterton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“More world leaders have sat on that box than any chair in history,” the photographer Platon, owner of that very box, told CNN in an interview conducted over Zoom. One of the girls that Platon photographed there was Esther Faraja. Vladimir Putin, photographed by Platon for Time’s Person of the Year in 2007, initially liked the image that Platon produced. Platon photographed Burmese politician and activist Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010, shortly after she was released from nearly 15 years of house arrest. Platon photographed members of the Burmese LGBTQ+ community who are living in exile and fighting against legislation that criminalizes same-sex behaviour.

Persons: CNN — Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi, Mark Zuckerberg, Platon, “, ” Platon, it’s, Platon Antoniou, George, John Kennedy Jr, Barack Obama, ”, Esther Faraja, Josue, Mukwege's, Denis Mukwege’s, you’re, ” Vladimir Putin, doesn’t, Vladimir Putin, Putin, who’s, Clinton, Platon Bill Clinton, there’s, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, “ Hillary, Aung, Suu Kyi, Platon Anastasia Smirnova, we’re Organizations: CNN, Hollywood, Royal College of Art, New Yorker, Kremlin, Downing, Mukwege's Panzi, Denis Mukwege’s Panzi, Society Locations: Greece, London, New York, George Clooney’s, Congo, Russian, Suu, Burma, Russia

☆ Britain faces its 'most dangerous' years in history, PM Rishi Sunak to warn in pre-election bid
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"I'm convinced that the next few years will be some of the most dangerous yet most transformational our country has ever known," he will add. Aides told the Guardian that Sunak has wanted to deliver the speech for some time. "I have bold ideas that can change our society for the better, and restore people's confidence and pride in our country." It is unclear exactly when Britons will head to the polls, but Sunak has indicated that a vote could be called in the autumn. By law, the next U.K. general election must be held no later than 28 January 2025.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, I'm, Downing Organizations: Conservative Party, Sky News, CNBC, Guardian, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour, Tories Locations: Britain, London

☆ Sunak to Urge University Leaders to Protect Jewish Students on Campus
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-08 | by ( Stephen Castle | Isabella Kwai | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of Britain will tell university leaders on Thursday to do more to combat antisemitism on college campuses, in a sign of rising dissatisfaction within government about the recent growth of encampments set up by students protesting the war in Gaza. Vice chancellors from some of Britain’s prominent universities have been invited to Downing Street to discuss “escalating antisemitic abuse toward Jewish students in the U.K.,” Mr. Sunak’s office said in a statement issued in advance of the meeting. But small-scale, largely peaceful protest encampments have sprung up recently around several universities, including Oxford, Cambridge, Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester. “Universities should be places of rigorous debate but also bastions of tolerance and respect for every member of their community,” Mr. Sunak said the statement released by his office ahead of the meeting. “A vocal minority on our campuses are disrupting the lives and studies of their fellow students and, in some cases, propagating outright harassment and antisemitic abuse.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, ” Mr, Sunak, “, ” Organizations: “ Locations: Britain, Gaza, Oxford, Cambridge, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester

☆ Russia's former president threatened nuclear attacks on Western capital cities if NATO sends any troops to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dmitry Medvedev is at it again, threatening Western leaders with nuclear attacks if they cross a line. Medvedev says no leaders in Washington, Paris, and London won't "be able to hide" if they send troops to Ukraine. AdvertisementFormer Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Monday threatened nuclear strikes on Western leaders who want to send their troops to Ukraine, doubling down on his increasingly hostile rhetoric toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Related storiesStrategic nuclear weapons are those typically launched via intercontinental ballistic missiles. But such threats have also been categorized as bluffs by Western leaders, who say the Kremlin hopes to scare Ukraine's allies off.

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Medvedev, —, nonstrategic, Vladimir Putin, Putin, isn't, Emmanuel Macron, Macron, Sinead Baker, Tony Soprano's, Edward Lucas Organizations: London, Service, Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, Capitol, Monday, Russia's, Hague, Center for, Russia's Security Locations: Washington, Paris, Ukraine, Russian, France, Baltics, Poland, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine's, Elysee, Downing Street, Moscow

☆ Graham Sutherland’s study for the portrait Winston Churchill hated goes up for auction
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Caitlin Chatterton | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Churchill is talking about his own portrait, commissioned to celebrate his 80th birthday, as it is unveiled in London’s Westminster Hall in November 1954. This painted study of Churchill by Sutherland, made in preparation of the portrait, is up for auction for the first time. Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Sotheby'sWhile “The Crown” is not a documentary, it is true that the 80th birthday portrait —described by Churchill as “filthy and malignant” in a letter to his personal doctor — was burned. “(Sutherland) caught him in a much more relaxed, intimate way,” Zlattinger said of the study, a small canvas painted in oils. Graham Sutherland, seen with his-then unfinished but eventually much-maligned portrait of Churchill.

Persons: it’s, ” Winston Churchill, John Lithgow, Graham Sutherland, Stephen Dillane, ”, Churchill, ” Sutherland, “, Judas, Churchill’s, Clementine, Harriet Walter, Sutherland, Tristan Fewings, —, ” Andre Zlattinger, “ He’d, He’d, Churchill —, Alfred Hecht, ” Zlattinger, Hatshepsut of, Baron, Queen Elizabeth I, Robert Blyth ,, Elizabeth “, Queen Victoria, Elizabeth, Ira B, Nadel, ” Blyth, Elizabeth I, Blyth, ” Dr Caroline Rae, Stalin, ” Bryn Sayles, Jacob Epstein, Alexis Schwarzenbach, Queen Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Cecil Beaton, Sayles, Gary Oldman’s Organizations: CNN, Hall, Modern, Irish, Sotheby’s New, Royal Museums Greenwich, Art, University College London, Conservative Party Locations: Sotheby’s, Sotheby’s New York, London, Sutherland, Queen, Downing, Suez, Blenheim, Oxford, New York, British, Swiss

☆ World leaders call for restraint in the aftermath of Iran’s unprecedented air attack against Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesWorld leaders have called for calm in the aftermath of Iran's large-scale air attacks on Israel on Saturday, with many expressing deep concern over the prospect of a broader regional conflict. Ahead of a war cabinet meeting on Monday, Israel has pledged to "exact a price" from Iran in response to the Saturday attack. watch nowU.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday said that he condemned "in the strongest possible terms" Iran's unprecedented air attack against military facilities in Israel. 'No one wants to see more bloodshed'European leaders castigated Iran's attack against Israel and vowed to work to de-escalate the situation. France and the U.K. intercepted some of Iran's strikes on Israel on Saturday.

Persons: Israel, Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Iran's, Emmanuel Macron, Rishi Sunak, Annalena Baerbock, Baerbock, Sunak, Yoko Kamikawa, Kamikawa, Gustavo Petro, Petro, Nicolas Maduro Organizations: Anadolu, Getty, CNBC, NBC News, Downing, German, NBC, Israel, Saudi Arabia's Foreign, United Nations Security Council, Sunday, UN, UNRWA, Kyodo, Japan's, United Nations, Colombia's, Bloomberg Locations: Israel, Tehran, Iran, Syria, Gaza, Syrian, Damascus, France, London, England, Germany, East, North Africa, Saudi, Egypt, Asia, China, Beijing, Palestine, Tokyo, Japan, South America, U.S, Miraflores, Caracas, Venezuela

☆ UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak draws criticism over Adidas Samba sneakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Leah Dolan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Because UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was seen wearing a pair. “In a bid to present himself as young and hip… Sunak took an eternally cool sneaker, and ruined it for everyone,” added British GQ. It’s a far cry from the public reaction another political leader received after being spotted in a pair of sneakers. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesSo why aren’t Sunak’s Sambas striking the same chord? Even the most ardent sneakerheads know there is a time and a place for a gum sole, and the British public have decided on-camera at 10 Downing Street is neither.

Persons: CNN — It’s, Harry Styles, Kaia Gerber, Bella Hadid, Paul Mescal, Rihanna, it’s, Rishi Sunak, ”, “, relatable, Michael Hogan, … Sunak, It’s, Barack Obama, Stan Smiths, Kamala Harris, Chuck Taylors, Mohd Rasfan, Obama, Bill Clinton, George W, Bush, Ronald Reagan, Harris, Kevin McCarthy, Hakeem Jeffries, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: CNN, Adidas Sambas, UK, Conservative, British, Guardian, GQ, Obama, Sneaker Con, Downing Locations: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, AFP, New York, Philadelphia, American

☆ UK government under growing pressure to stop selling arms to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to suspend the sale of arms to Israel following the deadly attack on a convoy of aid workers in Gaza. Calls for Sunak to stop supplying Israel with weapons grew after an Israeli airstrike on Monday killed seven members of staff from World Central Kitchen, three of whom were British citizens. The government is still waiting for legal advice from its lawyers on whether or not selling arms to Israel is in breach of international law. However, parliamentary estimates show that the UK has still licensed arms worth over $725m. The family of one of the aid workers killed former Royal Marine James Henderson, have criticized the UK sale of arms to Israel.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Alicia Kearns, Kearns, ”, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Grant Shapps, Marine James Henderson Organizations: London CNN, British, Parliament’s, Conservative Party, UNRWA, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party, Israeli, ” Defense, ”, UN Security Council, Marine, Times Locations: Israel, Gaza, British, Germany, Times of London

☆ UK government to deliver crucial pre-election budget announcements with economy in recession
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Economists expect Hunt to use a small modest windfall to deliver tax cuts as he looks to woo the electorate, with the main opposition Labour Party leading by more than 20 points across all national polls. Yet the chancellor is navigating the constraints of fragile public finances and a stagnant economy that entered a shallow technical recession at the end of 2023. Inflation has fallen faster than anticipated and market expectations for interest rates are well below where they were prior to Hunt's Autumn Statement in November, but many British households are still feeling the cost of living squeeze, while public services remain extremely stretched. The Treasury pre-announced plans over the weekend to deliver up to £1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) worth of benefits by boosting public sector productivity, including releasing police time for more frontline work. Hunt is under pressure from within his own party to deliver tax cuts, a move the International Monetary Fund warned against in January, given the country's spending needs on public services.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt Organizations: LONDON, Finance, Budget, Conservative Party, Labour Party, National Insurance, Treasury, International Monetary Fund Locations: London

☆ UK posts record budget surplus in January
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jeremy Hunt, UK chancellor of the exchequer, holding the despatch box as he stands with treasury colleagues outside 11 Downing Street in London, UK.. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesLONDON — The U.K. logged a record £16.7 billion ($21.1 billion) net budget surplus in January, according to official figures released on Wednesday. The Office for National Statistics noted that the country's public finances usually run a surplus in January, unlike during other months, as receipts from self-assessed annual income tax payments come in. Combined self-assessed income and capital gains tax receipts totaled £33 billion in January, the ONS said, down £1.8 billion from the same period of last year. Total government tax receipts came in at a record £90.8 billion, up £2.9 billion compared to January 2023. The figures on Wednesday mark the final set of public finances data before Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt delivers his Spring Budget, which outlines the government's fiscal policy for the year, on March 6.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Laura Trott, Hunt Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, National Statistics, Finance, Labour Party Locations: London, Covid, Ukraine

☆ Labour opposition deals another historic blow to UK PM Rishi Sunak with by-election defeats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Winning candidate Gen Kitchen said the result was a "stunning victory for the Labour Party and must send a message from Northamptonshire to Downing Street." LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservative Party suffered another double by-election defeat on Thursday, as the opposition Labour Party's momentum shows no sign of slowing. The double defeat of Thursday was the latest in a string of unfavorable by-election results for the ruling party in what were previously considered safe seats. "I was very pleased last night to see that we were clearly getting Tory switchers, in other words people who hadn't voted for the Labour Party before, coming out last night and voting for the Labour Party in a by-election." The Labour Party maintains a lead of more than 20 points over the Conservatives in all national polling, with a general election due no later than January 2025.

Persons: Kitchen, Peter Bone, —, Rishi Sunak's, Helen Harrison, Gen Kitchen, Chris Skidmore, Damien Egan, Keir Starmer, Tory switchers, hadn't, Boris Johnson, Robert Ford Organizations: Labour, Labour Party, Downing, Conservative, Conservatives, LONDON, Conservative Party, Kettering Leisure Village, Tamworth, Liberal Democrats, BBC, University of Manchester, CNBC Locations: Northamptonshire, Wellingborough , Northamptonshire, KETTERING, England, Wellingborough, Kettering, Kettering , England, Kingswood , South Gloucestershire, North, Kingswood, Mid Bedfordshire, West Midlands, Selby, Ainsty, Somerton, Frome

☆ 'Get on board': UK PM Sunak appeals to Lords to deliver his Rwanda asylum law
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in Downing Street on January 18, 2024 in London, England. He spoke after seeing the Safety of Rwanda Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 44 last night. Weakened by the failed rebellion that simply underlined the deep divisions in his party, Sunak repeated his mantra that it was time to "stick with the plan", that his "plan was working" and that the opposition Labour Party had "no plan". "The House of Lords must pass this bill. An opinion poll underlined his party's flagging fortunes, putting support for the Conservatives at the lowest level since former Prime Minister Liz Truss was forced from office.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Rwanda Bill, Stefan Rousseau, Sunak, Liz Truss Organizations: British, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour Locations: ENGLAND, Downing Street, London, England, Rwanda

☆ UK inches closer to technical recession as growth is revised down
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-22 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Data due out in February will show whether the U.K. has entered a technical recession — defined as when the economy shrinks for two consecutive quarters. There was also zero growth in the prior three months, the new figures showed, down from the 0.2% growth previously calculated. LONDON — The U.K. is edging closer to recession after revised figures showed the economy shrank in the previous quarter. Certainly, Rishi Sunak's pledge to grow the economy is now severely in doubt," he said. A near-term drop in interest rates would be a win for Sunak's government, as the U.K. enters an election year.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Richard Carter, Cheviot, Rishi Sunak's, Rishi Sunak, Downing, Andrew Bailey Organizations: Office, National Statistics, LONDON, Bank of England

☆ Former PM Boris Johnson to Defend Record and Conduct at UK COVID Inquiry
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Andrew MacAskillLONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a much-anticipated appearance before an inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic on Wednesday with his personal reputation and that of the Conservative government at stake. He was said to have asked at one point if blowing a hair-dryer up his nose could kill the virus. The inquiry is assessing decision-making through written and oral evidence from former and current ministers and officials. It has also been given access to private messages they exchanged in the run-up to, and at the height of, the crisis. In private messages seen by the inquiry, Simon Case, Britain's most senior civil servant, claimed in private messages that his boss changed "strategic direction every day" and he was unable to lead.

Persons: Andrew MacAskill, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Rishi Sunak, Patrick Vallance, –, Dominic Cummings, Eddie Lister, Lee Cain, Simon Case, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Andrew MacAskill LONDON, British, Conservative, Britain, Conservatives, Labour Party Locations: COVID, Britain, Downing

CNN —King Charles has worn a tie emblazoned with the Greek flag, just days after the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a meeting with his Greek counterpart in a diplomatic dispute over the Parthenon Sculptures, also known as the Elgin Marbles. The King wore the tie while meeting world leaders – including Sunak – at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai on Friday. A Buckingham Palace source told CNN the tie was simply one from the King’s current collection and has made other recent appearances. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was due to meet Sunak in London on Tuesday. However the meeting was abruptly canceled by Downing Street after Mitsotakis made comments during a television interview about the status of the Parthenon Sculptures, which are currently housed in the British Museum in London.

Persons: King Charles, Rishi Sunak, Sunak –, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Mitsotakis, Lord Elgin, ”, Charles ’, Prince Philip of Greece, Queen Elizabeth II, Duke, Edinburgh Organizations: CNN, British, Elgin Marbles, Sunak, Downing, British Museum, BBC, CNN’s Royal, British Prime Locations: Dubai, Buckingham, London, Greece, British, Athens, Ottoman Empire, Corfu, Denmark

☆ Britain's Sunak tries to reclaim climate narrative with $2 bln pledge
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivers a speech during a press conference on the net zero target, at the Downing Street Briefing Room, in central London, on September 20, 2023. Running way behind the opposition Labour Party in the polls before a national election expected next year, Sunak's team believes voters will only support measures to tackle climate change when, or if, they are affordable. But the time for pledges is now over – this is the era for action," Sunak said in a statement. "The transition to net zero should make us all safer and better off. ($1 = 0.7911 pounds)For daily comprehensive coverage on COP28 in your inbox, sign up for the Reuters Sustainable Switch newsletter here.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak's, Sunak, King Charles, Elizabeth Piper, Miral Organizations: Britain's, Downing, Labour Party, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, DUBAI, Dubai, Africa, Asia

☆ UK's Sunak snubs Greek PM at last minute amid ancient sculpture dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 23: Visitors to the British Museum walk around a selection of items from the collection of ancient Greek sculptures known as The Elgin Marbles on August 23, 2023 in London, England. LONDON — British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak canceled a scheduled meeting with Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday amid a diplomatic dispute about the Parthenon Sculptures. Greece has long maintained that the 2,500-year-old sculptures, removed by British diplomat Lord Elgin in the early 19th century and currently held in the British Museum, should be returned. The statues, also known as the Elgin Marbles, have been a source of disagreement between the two nations for centuries. Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden was available to meet Mitsotakis in Sunak's place.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Lord Elgin, Mitsotakis, Mona Lisa, Sunak, Oliver Dowden Organizations: British, Elgin Marbles, LONDON, British Museum, BBC, NATO, Downing Locations: ENGLAND, London, England, Greece, British, Athens, Ukraine, Sunak's

☆ 'Vote of confidence': UK hails $37 billion of foreign investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. It added that Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) would add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks. France has overtaken Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14 billion) of investment commitments in France at a similar FDI gathering in May. "It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters, adding ministers could then have "very strong, frank discussions with the international investment community about how we can make the environment more investable".

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Kemi Badenoch, Sunak's, Iberdrola, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Amanda Blanc, Dominic Johnson, IFM, King Charles, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter Organizations: British, Global Investment, Business, IFM, Microsoft, Blackstone, LBC, Nissan, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Hampton, East Molesey, Surrey, Britain, France, Germany, England, Buckingham

☆ UK's Sunak hails $37 billion investments before FDI summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australian funds IFM Investors and Aware Super will pump 10 billion pounds and 5 billion pounds, respectively, into projects ranging from infrastructure and energy transition to affordable housing, Sunak's Downing Street office said in a statement. Spanish power giant Iberdrola (IBE.MC) will add 7 billion pounds to its investment plans in Britain, which include transmission and distribution electricity networks, it said. France last year overtook Britain as the European country with the highest number of new FDI projects. French President Emmanuel Macron announced 13 billion euros ($14.18 billion)of investment commitments in his country at a similar FDI gathering in May. It wants to deal with one person," investment minister Dominic Johnson told Reuters ahead of Monday's event at Hampton Court.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Ian Forsyth, Sunak's, Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Stephen Schwarzman, David Solomon, Goldman Sachs, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, Dominic Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, IFM, William Schomberg, Alistair Smout, Louise Heavens Organizations: Britain's, Nissan, IFM, Microsoft, Britain, Blackstone, Hampton Court, Thomson Locations: Sunderland, Britain, Spanish, Hampton, London, France, Germany, England, British

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced heavy pressure from his own Conservatives to take swift action to bring down migration, as new data published Thursday showed net migration numbers were higher than previously thought. The Office for National Statistics revised its estimates for net migration to the U.K. — meaning the number of people arriving minus those leaving — in the year to December 2022 to 745,000. The more hard-line wing of the Tories called for Sunak to “act now” as a general election looms next year. The latest figures do show that net migration in the 12 months up to June 2023 was 672,000. Sunak's office at Downing Street said that net migration remained “far too high” and indicated that further measures could be introduced to bring down the figures.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, ”, “, Jay Lindop, we’re Organizations: National Statistics, Tories, New Conservatives, European Union, Britain, Channel, Downing, Authorities Locations: Britain, Ukraine, Hong Kong

☆ South Korean President to Meet UK PM Sunak for State Visit Talks
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for talks on Wednesday and sign an agreement stepping up cooperation in defence, security and technology. Yoon, on a state visit to London, and Sunak will sign a Downing Street Accord which will also involve them working together on enforcing U.N. sanctions on reclusive North Korea. A conservative, Yoon has cited a "polycrisis" of global challenges as a reason for seeking closer ties with like-minded partners. South Korea on Wednesday suspended part of a 2018 military agreement with North Korea after it defied warnings from the United States and launched a spy satellite. The suspension of a clause in the agreement will see South Korea step up military surveillance along the heavily fortified border with the North.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Yoon, King Charles, Buckingham, Charles, BLACKPINK, Alistair Smout, Joyce Lee, Nick Macfie Organizations: British, Downing, Accord, Ministers, Corio Generation, BP, Guard Locations: London, North Korea, South Korea, Buckingham, Korea, United States, Seoul

☆ Britain's Hunt broadens push to unlock pension pots for growth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Huw Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

By 2030, the majority of workplace DC savers will have their pension pots managed in schemes of over 30 billion pounds, and by 2040, all local government pension funds will be invested in pools of 200 billion pounds or more," Hunt told parliament. Hunt said such changes could help unlock an extra 75 billion pounds ($93.46 billion) of financing for high growth companies by 2030, and improve returns for pensioners. The British Business Bank will set up a new growth fund for schemes to invest in growth companies, and there will be a consultation on giving the Pension Protection Fund a new role to help consolidate direct benefit schemes, he said. The government also wants to allow certain portions of shares - fractional shares - within ISAs. ($1 = 0.8025 pounds)Reporting by Huw Jones Editing by Frances Kerry and Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hannah McKay, Hunt, PIMFA, William Wright, Huw Jones, Frances Kerry, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, British, London Stock Exchange's, Aquis Exchange, DC, British Business Bank, Local, ISA, Labour Party, Labour, New, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New York, ISAs

[1/5] Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt leaves 11 Downing Street for the House of Commons to deliver his autumn statement, in London, Britain, November 22, 2023. "After a global pandemic and energy crisis, we have taken difficult decisions to put our economy back on track," Hunt told parliament on Wednesday in his Autumn Statement fiscal update. Hunt pointed to OBR forecasts showing the government would meet its targets for the public finances, leaving open the possibility of further pre-election giveaways to voters in his full budget statement expected in early 2024. Sunak this week promised "responsible" tax cuts, mindful of last year's "mini-budget" turmoil in financial markets triggered by his predecessor Liz Truss's plans for much bigger tax cuts. This time last year, the newly installed Sunak and Hunt raised taxes sharply to quell the bond market mayhem.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Stefan Rousseau, Hunt, Rishi Sunak's, Paul Johnson, we've, giveaways, Johnson, BoE, Philip Shaw, Liz Truss's, Muvija M, Paul Sandle, Sarah Young, William James, Elizabeth Piper, Alistair Smout, Andrew MacAskill, James Davey, Suban Abdulla, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton, Sumanta Sen, William Schomberg, Catherine Evans Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Labour, Labour Party, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Gross, Reuters Graphics, Bank of England, Graphics, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British

☆ Britain to launch South Korea trade talks as president visits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

King Charles greeted President Yoon Suk Yeol with a royal guard of honour following his arrival in London, and then rode with him by carriage to Buckingham Palace. He will hold talks with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday, and sign an accord on closer diplomatic ties. Under the accord, the countries will agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - of which South Korea is an important producer - and artificial intelligence. [1/4]Members of the Royal Air Force (RAF) welcome South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, as they arrive at Stansted Airport, near London, Britain, November 20, 2023. "REFRESHED, MODERNISED DEAL"Under Yoon, South Korea has focused on strengthening economic, political, and military ties with the U.S. while seeking to maintain trade with China and working to overcome historical disputes with Japan.

Persons: Yoon, King Charles Yoon, King Charles, Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Keon Hee, Toby Melville, David Beckham, Son Heung Min, Kemi Badenoch, Alistair Smout, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates, Timothy Heritage, David Gregorio Our Organizations: LONDON, British, Accord, Trade, Downing, North, Royal Air Force, South, Stansted Airport, REUTERS, Trans, Pacific Partnership, European Union, Thomson Locations: Britain, Korea, London, Buckingham, United Kingdom, Downing, South Korea, North Korea, U.S, China, Japan, Seoul

☆ Britain to Launch South Korea Trade Talks During Yoon Visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON (Reuters) -Britain and South Korea will launch negotiations on a new free trade agreement (FTA) and sign a new diplomatic accord during a state visit by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol this week, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office said on Monday. The Downing Street accord will see the countries agree to work closely on areas such as semiconductors - which South Korea is a major producer of - and artificial intelligence. Speaking to members of the South Korean community, Yoon said South Korea and Britain are partners that share universal values of freedom, human rights and rule of law, and form an economic community through trade, Yonhap news reported. The talks on a new trade deal will aim to replace the carry-over trade deal from when Britain left the European Union, which was based on replicating a deal with the EU from 2011 and reduced tariffs in a range of areas. Britain said it hoped a new trade deal would pave the way for increased digital trade and streamline currently complex procedures, and have a new rules of origin chapter.

Persons: Yoon Suk, Rishi Sunak's, Yoon's, King Charles, Charles, Yoon, Sunak, Alistair Smout, Josh Smith, Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates Organizations: South, Britain, Accord, European Union, Trans, Pacific Partnership Locations: Britain, South Korea, Downing, Korea, London, cybersecurity, United States, China, Japan, Seoul

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