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☆ Kate’s cancer revelation throws royal family into fresh turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Yet again, the royal family could face some difficult questions about what they chose to reveal to the public, and when. Kin Cheung/Pool/AFP/Getty Images Kate Middleton, seen here at age 3, was born on January 9, 1982, in Reading, England. Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Kate and Prince William pose for photographers during an event to mark their engagement in 2010. Hannah McKay/Reuters From left, Prince William, Kate, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, wave to a crowd outside Windsor Castle ahead of the Queen's funeral in 2022. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images Kate attends the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in London in November 2023.

Persons: Catherine , Princess, Wales, ”, Kate, “ KATE, Prince William, Kate –, Queen Camilla, King Charles III’s, Catherine , Princess of, Kelly Holmes, Kelly Holmes Trust —, Kin Cheung, Kate Middleton, Middleton, Pippa, Michael, Clarence House, Stephen Lock, Shutterstock Prince William, Richard Heathcote, William, Princess Diana, Ben Stansall, Prince Harry, Pippa Middleton, Kirsty Wigglesworth, John Stillwell, Charles Dharapak, Queen Elizabeth II, Stefan Wermuth, Elizabeth II, Arthur Edwards, Harry Potter, Chris Jackson, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Camilla, Dominic Lipinski, Prince Louis, Charlotte, Aaron Chown, Oli Scarff, Queen, Hannah McKay, Meghan, Duchess of, Emilio Morenatti, Paul Grover, King Charles III, Yui Mok, Reuters Kate, Turlough Mor, Seamus, Karwai Tang, Choo Kyung, Max Mumby, Henry Nicholls, David Cliff, Diana, of, Rishi Sunak, “, Princess, Princess of Wales, CNN Kate, Easter, Prince William –, Gupta, George, Louis, Prince, Kate’s Organizations: London CNN, Times, Sun, Kelly Holmes Trust, Getty, University of St, English rugby, Nations, Italy, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Queen, Mary's, Trench, Culture Yard, Royal Air Force, Reuters, Hall, Horse Guards, Irish Guards, National Service of, Images Police, London Clinic, Getty Images, Press Association, Britain, Mary’s, British, CNN, CNN’s Royal Locations: British, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Bath, England, Reading, Jerash, Jordan, Blenheim, Oxfordshire, Andrews, Scotland, AFP, Westminster, London, Buckingham, South Pacific, Tuvalu, St, St . Austell, Kingston , Jamaica, Caribbean, Duchess of Sussex, Windsor, South Korea, Kensington, Wales, Lindo, London’s St, of Wales, Princess

☆ Arsenal edges past Porto on penalties to reach Champions League quarterfinals for first time in 14 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-12 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Emirates Stadium, London CNN —If Arsenal fans had forgotten just how tense and grueling the Champions League knockout stages can be, their memories will now certainly be refreshed after a thrilling 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Porto in the round of 16. On a raucous night, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said this was probably the best atmosphere he’d experienced at the Emirates Stadium since taking over as manager in 2019. It was a reminder of the threat this Porto team possessed – if Arsenal still needed one after Galeno’s late, long-range sucker punch in the first leg. That strike propelled Arsenal forward in the second half, though Porto looked increasingly content with sitting back and absorbing the pressure. After a riveting 90 minutes, extra time was largely a non-event, with the highlight coming when Kai Havertz pushed Porto manager Sergio Conceição to spark a tussle on the touchline.

Persons: Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard’s, Wendell, Galeno, David Raya, Mikel Arteta, “, ”, Pepe, William Saliba, Evanilson, Leandro Trossard's, Hannah McKay, Porto, Diogo Costa, Arteta, Arsenal's, Adrian Dennis, Francisco Conceição, Kai Havertz, Sergio Conceição, ’ Organizations: London CNN, Arsenal, Champions League, Porto, Gunners, Emirates, League, Reuters, Belgian, Getty Locations: London, Europe’s, Raya, AFP

☆ The “Dune: Part Two” cast’s red carpet looks are out of this world
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Doug Peters/PA Images/Alamy Images/Sipa USATimothée Chalamet in Haider Ackermann at the London premiere. Jeff Spicer/Getty ImagesLea Seydoux in an intricately-embroidered Louis Vuitton gown at the London premiere. Marc Piasecki/Getty ImagesChalamet in Prada at the Mexico City premiere on February 6. Medios y Media/Getty ImagesButler in Saint Laurent in Mexico City. Angel Delgado/Getty ImagesChalamet in Hermès at a Mexico City photocall on February 5.

Persons: ” Law Roach, Zendaya, Rick Owens, Timothée Chalamet, Alexander McQueen, Paul Atreides, Roach, Thierry, Haider Ackermann, Florence Pugh, Valentino, Lea Seydoux, Rebecca Ferguson, Louis Vuitton, Anya Taylor, Joy, Dior, Doug Peters, Chalamet, Mike Marsland, Jeff Spicer, Hannah McKay, Scott A, Thierry Mugler, Daniel Leal, Samir Hussein, Austin Butler, Gucci, Ferguson, Marc Piasecki, Geoffroy Van Der, Pugh, Butler, Angel Delgado, Jaime Nogales Organizations: CNN, Balmain, London, Getty, Reuters, Paris, Chalamet, Givenchy Haute Couture, Couture, Mexico City, photocall Locations: Mexico City, Paris, London, Fendi, Bottega Veneta, Zendaya, Roksanda, Louis, Givenchy Haute, Geoffroy Van Der Hasselt, AFP, Prada, Mexico, Saint Laurent, Hermès

☆ King Charles’ cancer diagnosis: How much should the public be told?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

King Charles and Queen Camilla are seen leaving Clarence House in London on February 6, the day after it was announced King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. But Queen Elizabeth and King Charles, they do not want to become the story, they still want to serve their public. In the fullness of time, I would like to think King Charles will talk about his treatment.”Britain's King Charles III poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room after his official coronation in May 2023. From left are Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles; Queen Elizabeth II; Prince Philip; Prince William; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. From left are Prince Charles; the Queen; Prince Louis; Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge; and Princess Charlotte.

Persons: London CNN — Britain’s King Charles III, Buckingham, Charles, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Clarence, Toby Melville, King, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, “, Sunak’s, Charles ’, Chris Jackson, ”, Kate Williams, Joe Biden, Matthew Chattle, survivorship, “ Jill, “ You’re, Anil Rustgi, Herbert, ” Rustgi, Sally Bedell Smith, George VI, ” King George VI, Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Emily Nash, It’s, Princes William, Harry, Andrew, Edward, Anne, Beatrice, Nash, Princess, Wales, She’s, hasn’t, Catherine, ” Williams, Kristina Kyriacou, ITV’s, They’ve, Kyriacou, she’d, Queen Elizabeth, ” Britain's King Charles III, Hugo Burnand, Princess Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princess Anne, Eddie Worth, Margaret, Hulton, Sir Gerald Creasy, Paul Popper, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince, Popperfoto, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Richard Nixon, William Lovelace, Serge Lemoine, David McFall, Anwar Hussein, Tim Graham, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lady Diana Spencer, Princess Diana, William, Diana, David Levenson, Johnny Eggitt, Nelson Mandela, David Thomson, Princess Diana's, Jayne Fincher, Thomas Coex, Adrian Dennis, Chris Ison, Prince of, Camilla, Matt Dunham, Prince William, Kate Middleton, James Devaney, FilmMagic, Andrew Milligan, Barack Obama, Chris Radburn, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine , Duchess of Cambridge, Dominic Lipinski, Alessandro Bianchi, Mohd Rasfana, Andrew Parsons, Prince Charles , Prince Andrew, Duchess Camilla, Meghan Markle, Jonathan Brady, Max Mumby, He's, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Meghan, PoolAP Charles, Tim P, Paul Chiasson, Ben Stansall, Duchess, Cambridge, Hannah McKay, Reuters Charles, Liz Truss, Yui Mok, Queen Consort, Victoria Jones, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, Aaron Chown, Handout, Dan Kitwood, Andrew Matthews, Sarah Tilotta, Toby Hancock, CNN Charles, Giles, Jane Barlow, Emmanuel Macron, Benoit Tessier, Peter Nicholls, Britain's King Charles III, Estelle Paranque Organizations: London CNN, Clarence House, Reuters, CNN, BBC, British, Getty, Royal, Publishing, Macmillan Cancer, Cancer Research, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer, Presbyterian, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Topical Press Agency, Royals, CNN’s Royal, Buckingham Palace, Central Press, Hulton, Hulton Deutsch, Westminster Abbey, Keystone, Royal Navy, Queen, Trinity College , Cambridge, Bettmann, Hulton Royals, Cheshire Regiment, Spice, Westminster Hall, Royal Horticultural Society's, Chelsea, London Palladium, BBC Scotland's, Office, Zephyr, Army Air Corps, Sandringham, Royal Air Force, Whitby, Imperial State Crown, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Cathedral, Scotland, King, London Clinic, Northeastern University London Locations: London, British, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom, NewYork, Queen, Windsor, Wales, Buckingham, Malta, Westminster, France, Washington, Kenya, West Berlin, Canada, Cirencester, England, Canterbury, India, Manchester, Papua New Guinea, Toronto, AFP, Balmoral, Balmoral , Scotland, Paris, Ashbourne, Ranville, Prince of Wales, Amatrice, Borneo, St, John's, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nyamata, Rwanda, St James's, Hamburg, Germany, Edward's, Edinburgh, Scotland, of Versailles, Versailles

REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Dec 5 (Reuters) - British Home Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in Rwanda on Tuesday to sign a new treaty to send asylum seekers to the African nation after the UK's top court declared the deportation scheme unlawful. But the United Kingdom's Supreme Court last month ruled the flights would violate international human rights laws enshrined in domestic legislation. Since that ruling, Britain has been seeking to renegotiate its agreement with Rwanda to include a binding treaty that it would not expel asylum seekers sent there by Britain - one of the court's major concerns. The court said the plan breached international undertakings - including the European Convention on Human Rights, the United Nations' Refugee Convention and Convention against Torture. The Rwanda policy was originally announced by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year, but no asylum seekers have been sent to the country yet.

Persons: James, Hannah McKay, Vincent Biruta, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Boris Johnson, Andrew MacAskill, Michael Holden, Rishabh Jaiswal, Richard Chang, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, European, Human, United Nations, Refugee Convention, Torture, Conservative Party, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Rwanda, Rwanda's, Kigali, Europe

☆ Rafael Nadal to make his tennis comeback in Brisbane next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Tennis great Rafael Nadal has said he will make his long-awaited return from injury at the Brisbane International in January. “After a year away from competition, it’s time to come back,” Nadal said in a video posted on multiple social media platforms Friday. “It will be in Brisbane the first week of January.”Nadal last competed at the Australian Open in January. He is also widely expected to make a grand slam return at the Australian Open. In October, before Nadal had officially announced a comeback, tournament director and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley stated that Nadal would be among the field at the 2024 edition of the competition.

Persons: Rafael Nadal, “, ” Nadal, American Mackenzie McDonald, Nadal, Hannah Mckay, ”, Craig Tiley Organizations: CNN, Tennis, Brisbane International, American, Rome, McDonald, Tennis Australia, Nadal Locations: Brisbane, Madrid

Signage is seen outside of a Metro Bank in London, Britain, May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 30 (Reuters) - Metro Bank (MTRO.L) on Thursday announced sweeping cost-cutting plans aimed at bolstering its finances, which could see the embattled British lender lay off 20% of its staff and axe some of its biggest customer perks including seven-day opening hours. The lender expects to take a lower-than-expected one-off restructuring charge of between 10 million pounds and 15 million pounds in 2023. Metro Bank did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on the precise number of roles at risk, but the lender employs around 4,000 people, according to its latest annual report. It is also reviewing its seven-day opening and extended store hours and will "selectively streamline lending" to focus on relationship banking to maximise risk-adjusted returns.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Jaime Gilinski, Daniel Frumkin, outflows, Yadarisa, Sinead Cruise, Elizabeth Howcroft, Rashmi Aich, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Metro Bank, REUTERS, Metro, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Colombian, Bengaluru

☆ 'Leave The World Behind': Strangers, danger and layers, says Julia Roberts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Hanna Rantala | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Cast members Julia Roberts and Myha'la Herrold attend the World Premiere of the film "Leave the World Behind" in London, Britain, November 29, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 29 (Reuters) - U.S. actress Julia Roberts says her new film "Leave The World Behind" is a multilayered disaster thriller that allowed her to play someone very different from herself. Executive produced by former U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the movie is written and directed by "Mr. It was just all the layers of the people and the circumstances," Roberts told Reuters at the film's premiere in London on Wednesday. "Leave The World Behind", which also stars Ethan Hawke and Kevin Bacon, is out in select cinemas and starts streaming on Netflix on Dec. 8.

Persons: Julia Roberts, Myha'la Herrold, Hannah McKay, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Mr, Sam Esmail, Rumaan Alam, Roberts, Amanda, Mahershala Ali, Myha'la, Esmail, Ethan Hawke, Kevin Bacon, Hanna Rantala, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Reuters, Hollywood, Netflix, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Bank of England should look more at money supply, lawmakers say
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A bus passes the Bank of England in the City of London, Britain, February 14, 2017. "Climate change is the most-cited example of the expansion of the remit," committee chair George Bridges, a Conservative former Brexit minister, told Reuters. The House of Lords committee set up the inquiry in March, following a surge in inflation to a 41-year high last year. The central bank is midway through its own forecasting review led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke. The House of Lords committee said parliament should have more opportunity to debate these changes, and should conduct in-depth reviews of the BoE's work every five years.

Persons: Hannah McKay, BoE, Mervyn King, George Bridges, Ben Bernanke, Jeremy Hunt, Bridges, David Milliken, William Schomberg Organizations: Bank of England, City of, REUTERS, Economic Affairs Committee, Conservative, Reuters, U.S . Federal, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, Britain, Ukraine

☆ 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

☆ UK lender Nationwide reports record first-half member benefits
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Lawrence White | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen outside of a Nationwide Building Society in London, Britain, May 22, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Nationwide Building Society (NBS.L) reported record benefits for its customers in the first half of its financial year, including a 344 million pound ($425.94 million) payout and 885 million pounds of incentives on products below market rates. The country's largest building society made 100 pound transfers into the current accounts of 3.4 million members in May, paying longstanding customers some of its profits from rising interest rates. The member-owned lender, which competes with Britain's big banks but does not have to prioritise shareholder returns, on Friday said profit for the six months to Sept. 30 rose to 989 million pounds from 969 million pounds a year earlier. ($1 = 0.8076 pounds)Reporting by Lawrence White Editing by David GoodmanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Lawrence White, David Goodman Organizations: Building Society, REUTERS, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ GKN Aerospace-owner Melrose lifts 2023 profit expectations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 16 (Reuters) - British aerospace supplier Melrose (MRON.L) said on Thursday it expected 2023 profit to be 7% higher than its previous expectations, partly driven by stronger aftermarket demand and improved pricing. The owner of GKN Aerospace, which counts Airbus (AIR.PA) and Boeing (BA.N) as its top customers, said trading and margin performance during the four month ended Oct. 31 was better than its previous expectations. Melrose, which spun off its auto and other businesses in April to become a pure-play aerospace supplier, now expects an adjusted core profit of 680 million pounds to 700 million pounds ($842.5-$867.2 million) for the year ending Dec. 31. In September, Melrose flagged a potential cash hit of about 200 million pounds through 2026 after Pratt & Whitney parent RTX (RTX.N) warned of grounding of some engine variants for quality checks. GKN Aerospace has a 4% programme share on the GTF PW1100G variant impacted by this issue.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Pratt & Whitney, Yadarisa Shabong, Aby Jose Koilparambil, Savio D'Souza Organizations: REUTERS, Melrose, GKN Aerospace, Boeing, Pratt &, Thomson Locations: GKN, Redditch, Britain, British, Bengaluru

☆ GPU tech supplier Imagination Technologies lays off 20% of staff -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Max A. Cherney | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The headquarters of technology company Imagination Technologies is seen on the outskirts of London, Britain, June 22, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 13 (Reuters) - Chip technology design maker Imagination Technologies plans to lay off 20% of the company’s staff, according to sources familiar with the matter. The cuts are company-wide and every unit will be affected, according to one of the sources. Imagination Tech is owned by the private equity firm Canyon Bridge, which is backed by the Chinese state-owned China Reform holdings. For last year, Imagination reported profit before tax of £17 million ($20.9 million) on revenue of £120.3 million, according to filings.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Imagination, Max A, Chris Reese, Stephen Coates Organizations: Imagination Technologies, REUTERS, Apple, Reuters, Arm Holdings, Imagination Tech, China Reform, Imagination, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, China, San Francisco

☆ Seven people charged by UK police after Saturday protests in London
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Police officers detain a counter-protester on the day of a demonstration in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, November 11, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/ File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Seven people have been charged following a mass pro-Palestinian march and a far-right counter protest on Saturday when more than 140 people were arrested, the police said on Sunday. Skirmishes broke out between police and the far-right groups gathered to protest against the demonstration taking place on Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War One, when Britain commemorates its war dead. London's Metropolitan police said investigations were continuing into a "number of other incidents" and that the seven were charged with different offences, such as criminal damage, resisting arrest, possession of an offensive weapon, drugs possession, being drunk and disorderly, and assault. Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; editing by Giles ElgoodOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Laurence Taylor, Elizabeth Piper, Giles Elgood Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Metropolitan, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain

About a mile away from the start of the march, about 1,000 people lined the streets to watch the remembrance events at the Cenotaph war memorial. Among the crowd, some right-wing counter-protesters opposed to the pro-Palestinian march chanted messages including "We want out country back". DISRESPECTFULSunak has criticised the pro-Palestinian rally as disrespectful amid concerns it could spark violence. There has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including Britain's, and many citizens over the Hamas attacks. But the Israeli response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.

Persons: Hollie Adams, Laurence Taylor, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Taylor, I've, Michael Holden, Hannah McKay, Sarah Young, Ed Osmond, Helen Popper Our Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Government, Cenotaph . Police, Charing, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, PSC, U.S, Embassy, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Palestine, Waterloo, Victoria, Downing, Western

☆ Huge crowds expected for London pro-Palestinian rally, police gear for trouble
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Demonstrators protest in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in London, Britain, October 21, 2023. "I do believe if the groups come together, there will be serious disorder," said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, the officer in charge. "The policing operation this weekend is huge," he told reporters, saying it would be "challenging and tense". There has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from Western governments, including Britain's, and many citizens over the Hamas attacks. But the Israeli response has also prompted anger, with weekly protests in London demanding a ceasefire.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Rishi Sunak, Laurence Taylor, Ben Jamal, Suella Braverman, Sunak, Stephen Yaxley, Lennon, Tommy Robinson, Taylor, I've, Michael Holden, Ed Osmond Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Police, Palestine Solidarity, U.S, Reuters, PSC, English Defence League, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, Palestinian, London, Britain, Palestine, Western, Sunak's

☆ UK finance firms face $510 million levy to fund 2024/25 compensation claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Britain's Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has forecast imposing a levy of 415 million pounds ($510 million) against UK financial firms to fund 2024/25 claims for redress from customers suffering poor advice and insurance provider failures. This indicative figure is higher than for 2023/24, primarily due to larger surpluses that were carried over from the 2022/23 financial year which reduced the 2023/24 levy to 270 million pounds, the FSCS said. The levy is likely to include cover on self-invested personal pension (SIPP) operator failure claims and pay-outs for insurance firm failures that occurred in previous financial years, it added. "FSCS directly contributes to trust and stability in our financial services system and makes a genuine difference to consumers' lives," Martyn Beauchamp, Interim Chief Executive of FSCS said in a statement. Most of our compensation continues to be paid out for poor financial advice and for legacy insurance provider failures - both of which include some of the most complex defaults and claims we handle," he added.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Martyn Beauchamp, FSCS, Sinead Cruise, Simon Jessop Organizations: REUTERS, Britain's, Interim, Thomson Locations: Bishopsgate, London, Britain

☆ Bank of England central counterparty stress tests confirm resilience
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The Bank of England is seen in the City of London, Britain, February 14, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The Bank of England on Wednesday said results of stress tests on central counterparties (CCPs) showed continued resilience at the businesses, which help clear and settle trades in financial instruments and commodities essential for the global economy. "The results confirm the continued resilience of UK CCPs to market stress scenarios that are of equal and greater severity than the worst-ever historical market stresses," said Sarah Breeden, the BoE's Deputy Governor for Financial Stability. The stress tests covered three central counterparties which operate in Britain, ICE Clear Europe Limited (ICE.N), LCH Limited, a part of LSEG (LSEG.L), and LME Clear Limited, owned by Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (0388.HK). The BoE said it would use the findings "to support and inform its ongoing supervision and regulation of UK CCPs".

Persons: Hannah McKay, Sarah Breeden, BoE, William James, David Milliken, Sarah Young Organizations: of, City of, REUTERS, Bank of England, Financial Stability, ICE Clear Europe, LCH, LME Clear, Hong Kong Exchanges, Clearing, HK, LME, Thomson Locations: of England, City, City of London, Britain, LSEG, LME Base

☆ Lloyd's of London to invest $65 million following slavery report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Carolyn Cohn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Signage is seen inside the Lloyd's of London building in the City of London financial district in London, Britain, April 16, 2019. The 335-year old insurance market apologised in 2020 for its role in the 18th and 19th century slave trade. The Lloyd's market is made up of nearly 50,000 people, and Lloyd's wants one in three new hires to come from ethnic minorities. Historians estimate between one and two-thirds of the British marine insurance market was based on the slave trade in the 18th century. The research also showed that Joseph Marryat, Lloyd's of London chairman from 1811 to 1824, had enslaved people, White added.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Lloyd's, We've, Bruce Carnegie, Brown, Alexandre White, Joseph Marryat, White, Garba, Carolyn Cohn, Sinead Cruise, Jan Harvey, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: REUTERS, London, Black, Johns Hopkins University, Mellon Foundation, Reuters, Central Fund, African Development Bank, Inter, American Development Bank, UN, Equity, of, United Nations, European Union, U.S, Thomson Locations: London, City, Britain, Liverpool, Lloyd’s

☆ The laws British PM Sunak wants to pass before the next election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The King's Speech - given by the monarch but written by government ministers - opens the new session of parliament. This is likely to be the last one before the election, which must be held by January 2025, and many policies were aimed at appealing to voters. CIGARETTES AND VAPESThe Tobacco and Vapes Bill will deliver on Sunak's promise made last month to phase out all tobacco sales in England. SOCCER REGULATORThe government plans to set up an independent football regulator, who will be responsible for scrutinising club owners and their financial resources. The new legislation will require owners to ensure fans are consulted on changes to club's badges, names and shirt colours.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Keir Starmer, Hannah McKay, King Charles, Bill, Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout, Elizabeth Piper, Alex Richardson, Barbara Lewis Organizations: British, Labour Party, REUTERS, Conservatives, Petroleum, Markets, Competition, Consumers, SOCCER, Super League, Trans, Pacific, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, North, Freehold, Wales, Pacific, Australia, Japan

☆ MBDA's British arm signs $5 bln deal to bolster Poland's air defence system
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

British Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The British arm of defence firm MBDA has signed a 4 billion pound ($4.92 billion) deal to supply Poland with ground-based air defence systems, the British government said on Tuesday. Britain's Ministry of Defence said the partnership would boost Poland's Narew air defence programme and help bolster European security amid the conflict in Ukraine. "This is another crucial step forward for our historic defence ties with Poland, supplying next generation air defence capabilities to act as a clear deterrent to our adversaries," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said. The air defence system would be able to launch missiles at air threats such as cruise missiles and fighter jets at ranges of more than 40 kilometres, the ministry said.

Persons: Defence Grant Shapps, Hannah McKay, MBDA, Grant Shapps, Mariusz Blaszczak, Italy's Leonardo, Sachin Ravikumar, Alan Charlish, William James Our Organizations: State, Defence, REUTERS, Britain's Ministry of Defence, British, Airbus, Britain's BAE Systems, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, Poland, Ukraine, Poland's

☆ British fiscal headroom an 'illusion' that will not leave room for tax cuts, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Extra fiscal headroom as a result of higher inflation is illusory and will not give any space for tax cuts when British Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt gives a fiscal update later this month, a think tank report said on Monday. The Resolution Foundation's analysis said that higher tax receipts and lower borrowing - both a result of sticky inflation - would increase Britain's fiscal headroom by 13 billion pounds ($16.09 billion), but added this was based on "implausible" public spending plans. That higher inflation is affecting public spending. Public spending will also have to increase more than is currently forecast to protect the budgets of some ministries in real terms in the coming years, the think-tank said. "It's increasingly clear that spending plans pencilled in for after the next election cannot be delivered," Smith said.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, James, Suella Braverman, Hannah McKay, Hunt, James Smith, Smith, Alistair Smout, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Conservative, REUTERS, British, The Bank of England, Foundation, Thomson Locations: Manchester, Britain

☆ UK services businesses 'skirt with recession' in Oct-PMI survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The composite PMI - which includes weak data from the smaller manufacturing sector released on Tuesday - rose to 48.7 from 48.5 in September. "Forward-looking survey indicators suggested that service providers will continue to skirt with recession," Tim Moore, economics director at S&P Global, said. "A shallow downturn in UK service sector activity persisted in October as businesses struggled to make headway against a backdrop of worsening domestic economic conditions and stretched household budgets." The services PMI showed the weakest rise in businesses' input costs since February 2021, as falling raw material costs and discounting by suppliers offset continued upward pressure from rising wage bills and fuel costs. Prices charged by services companies rose by the most in three months, although the increases were smaller than in the first half of the year.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Tim Moore, BoE, David Milliken, Susan Fenton Organizations: REUTERS, P, PMI, P Global, Bank of England, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, September's, United States

[1/5] Actor Nadjma Abshir, 29 year old, performs a scene from the play ‘Desperate Times’, a sell-out comedy presentation by the Somali women's theatre company ‘Side eYe Productions’, at the Rich Mix arts centre in London, Britain, October 25, 2023. Artistic director Hannah Abdule, a civil servant, co-founded Side eYe Productions in 2019 to create opportunities she felt were denied to people like her. As part of its inclusive mission, Side eYe aims to give opportunities to Somali women with little theatrical experience. "Our parents had more of a mentality of survival and that is getting traditional jobs in sciences, teaching," Abshir said. "We've done what we've needed to do and are looking at the things that truly interest us."

Persons: Nadjma Abshir, Hannah McKay, Hannah Abdule, Sabrina Ali, tangles, Amal Abdi, Abshir, Barbara Lewis, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Somali women's, Rich Mix, REUTERS, Edinburgh Fringe, Somali, Somali Arts and Culture, Thomson Locations: Somali, London, Britain, England, Sheffield, Bristol

The puzzle game on his Android phone had been interrupted by a video showing Hamas militants, terrified Israeli families and blurred graphic footage. Reuters has not been able to establish how the ad came to her son's video game, but her family isn't alone. In at least one case, the ads were played inside the popular "Angry Birds" game made by SEGA-owned developer Rovio (ROVIO.HE). Google ran more than 90 ads for the foreign ministry but declined to comment on where it displayed those ads. In the Cassis family's case, the ads appeared in a game called "Alice's Mergeland" made by a developer called LazyDog Game.

Persons: Maria Julia Assis, Hannah McKay, Maria Julia Cassis, Rovio, Lotta Backlund, David Saranga, Saranga, Outbrain, Holland –, Alexandra Marginean, Marginean, Stack's, Raphael Satter, Sheila Dang, Katie Paul, Ken Li, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: REUTERS, Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Reuters, SEGA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israeli Foreign Ministry, Google, West Bank, Palestine, Palestinian Authority, Holland, Stack's Ubisoft, Subway, SYBO, Apple, Standards Authority, Thomson Locations: Israel, London, Britain, Brazil, Europe, Gaza, France, Austria, Germany, Munich, Austrian, Danish, Washington, New York

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