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☆ Rwanda: UK home secretary James Cleverly to sign new asylum treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Reuters —British Home Secretary James Cleverly arrived 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 that such a move 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, Vincent Biruta, ”, Rishi Sunak, Robert Jenrick, Sunak, Boris Johnson Organizations: Reuters, British, Pressure, Sky News, European, Human, United Nations ’ Refugee Convention, Torture, Conservative Party, of Human Rights, United Nations Locations: Rwanda, Britain, Rwanda’s, Kigali, Europe

☆ Russia offered to end its invasion of Ukraine if it dumped plans to join NATO, but Kyiv feared a double-cross, says negotiator
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-26 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia proposed ending the war if Ukraine abandoned its NATO ambitions, a Ukrainian politician said. AdvertisementRussia offered to stop its invasion of Ukraine on the condition that Zelenskyy's government abandoned its ambition to join NATO, The Kyiv Post reports. The Russian delegation reportedly proposed ending the war if Ukraine dropped its NATO aspirations and took a neutral position. Three days after Johnson's departure from Kyiv, Putin publicly declared that talks with Ukraine had "turned into a dead end." The US opposes extending NATO membership to Ukraine in the immediate future to avoid escalating the West's tensions with Russia.

Persons: —, David Arakhamiya, Arakhamiya, Natalia Moseychuk, SERGEI SUPINSKY, Boris Johnson's, Johnson, let's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: NATO, Service, Kyiv, People, Ukrainian, Russian, Getty Images Former British, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Belarus, Turkey, Bucha, Kyiv, AFP, Finland

LONDON (AP) — Britain's government was too late in taking action against the coronavirus during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, the U.K.'s chief medical adviser said Tuesday. “With the benefit of hindsight, we went a bit too late on the first wave," Whitty conceded. Whitty, who remains the U.K.'s top medical official, was the latest to give testimony to the independent COVID-19 inquiry. The probe was ordered by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021 to scrutinize and learn lessons from the U.K.'s response to the pandemic. Whitty became a household name during the pandemic, when he often appeared alongside Johnson and senior officials at daily televised government briefings on COVID-19.

Persons: —, Chris Whitty, Whitty, Keith, “ overreacting, Rather, ” Whitty, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Treasury Locations: Europe, France, Spain, Italy

☆ UK PM Sunak reportedly said 'just let people die', COVID inquiry hears
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak visits the pathology labs at Leeds General Infirmary, to show how yesterday's budget is supporting those affected by coronavirus (COVID-19), in Leeds, Britain March 12, 2020. Danny Lawson/Pool via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the government should "just let people die" during the COVID-19 pandemic rather than impose a second national lockdown, the inquiry into how Britain handled the crisis heard on Monday. Patrick Vallance, who was the government's chief scientific adviser during COVID, made a note in his diary on Oct. 25, 2020, about a meeting involving then Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Sunak, who was finance minister. Vallance quoted Cummings in his diary as saying: "Rishi thinks just let people die and that's okay. A spokesman for Sunak said the prime minister would set out his position when he gives evidence to the inquiry "rather than respond to each one in piecemeal".

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Danny Lawson, Patrick Vallance, Boris Johnson, Sunak, Dominic Cummings, Johnson's, Vallance, Cummings, Rishi, Johnson, Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper, Christina Fincher Organizations: Britain's, Leeds General Infirmary, Thomson Locations: Leeds, Britain

LONDON (AP) — Boris Johnson, the former British prime minister, struggled to come to grips with much of the science during the coronavirus pandemic, his chief scientific advisor said Monday. In keenly awaited testimony to the country’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic, Patrick Vallance said he and others faced repeated problems getting Johnson to understand the science. “I think I’m right in saying that the prime minister gave up science at 15," he said. During the pandemic, Vallance was a highly visible presence in the U.K. The inquiry is set to hear from current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was Johnson's Treasury chief at the time.

Persons: — Boris Johnson, Patrick Vallance, Johnson, “, Vallance, Chris Whitty, Johnson's, –, ”, Heather Hallett, Rishi Sunak, Sunak Organizations: British, Downing, Treasury Locations: British, Europe

☆ UK's Octopus Energy launches $3.7 bln offshore wind fund with Tokyo Gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses for photographs with a branded electric taxi as he visits the headquarters of Octopus Energy, in London, Britain October 5, 2020. The Octopus Energy Offshore Wind fund, set up with a 190 million pound cornerstone investment from Tokyo Gas, will invest in offshore wind farms as well as companies creating new offshore wind capacity, with a focus on Europe, Octopus said. The fund will look at both traditional offshore wind turbines and floating turbines. "The potential to make a positive impact, boost energy security and reduce fossil fuels dependence is massive with offshore wind," said Octopus Energy Generation Chief Executive Zoisa North-Bond. Octopus Energy Generation has said it plans to invest $20 billion in offshore wind by 2030, with an aim to boost energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Persons: Boris Johnson, Leon Neal, Octopus, Zoisa, Sachin Ravikumar, Mark Potter Organizations: Britain's, Octopus Energy, Rights Companies Tokyo Gas Co, Energy, Gas, Tokyo Gas, Bond, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Tokyo, Europe

☆ Ukraine claims a new ‘foothold’ in the country’s south. What does that mean for Kyiv’s efforts to keep the West on its side?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Nathan Hodge | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

In a recent interview with the Economist, General Valery Zaluzhny acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had failed to achieve a major breakthrough of layered Russian defensive lines. Ukrainian forces near Dnipro River. But the Ukrainian gains on the Dnipro’s left bank are tenuous. A pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel that closely tracks military operations said Thursday that “several small footholds had to be abandoned” on the Dnipro’s left bank. “Russian forces are trying to eliminate the main AFU [Armed Forces of Ukraine] bridgehead in Krynky with the support of all possible means of long-range defeat,” said one blogger.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Andriy Yermak, “, Yermak, General Valery Zaluzhny, Zaluzhnyi, ”, Roman Pilipey, Vladimir Saldo, David Cameron, ” Zelensky, Cameron, Boris Johnson’s, Boris Johnson, ” Cameron, Russia –, Dmytro Kuleba, Kuleba Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, Kremlin, Dnipro “, Getty, Ukrainian Telegram, CNN, Armed Forces, ” CNN, Dnipro, Russia, Ukraine’s, Ukraine, Union Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukraine CNN — Ukraine, Washington, Dnipro, Russian, Kherson, Krynky, ” Ukraine, Russia, Dnipro River, Roman, AFP, Crimea, Kherson Oblast, United Kingdom, Ukrainian, Avdiivka

☆ Top U.K. Court to Rule on Deporting Asylum Seekers to Rwanda
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Megan Specia | More About Megan Specia | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Britain’s Supreme Court will rule on Wednesday whether the government’s contentious policy to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda is lawful, in a pivotal moment for the ruling Conservative Party during an already turbulent week. The Rwanda policy was first announced in April 2022 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as he attempted to make good on a Brexit campaign promise to “take back control” of the country’s borders. The hard-line policy has since been pursued by Mr. Johnson’s successors, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, with each repeating his original untested argument that the threat of being deported to Rwanda would deter the tens of thousands of people who try to cross the English Channel in small boats each year. But it has been widely criticized by rights groups and opposition politicians from the start, with many pointing to Rwanda’s troubled record on human rights. And to date no one has been sent to the small East African nation, because of a series of legal challenges.

Persons: Boris Johnson, “, Johnson’s, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Conservative Party Locations: Britain’s, Rwanda

LONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will learn on Wednesday whether his government can finally go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda when the UK Supreme Court gives its verdict on the scheme's lawfulness. Sunak is seeking to overturn a ruling in June that found the plan to send migrants who arrived in Britain without permission to the East African nation was unlawful as Rwanda was not a safe third country. Five judges from the Supreme Court will deliver their ruling at about 1000 GMT. This year more than 27,000 people have arrived on the southern English coast without permission, after a record 45,755 were detected in 2022. Asked if the government had an alternative plan, a spokesperson for Sunak said on Tuesday: "We have options for various scenarios as you would expect", but that leaving the ECHR was not discussed by cabinet.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Boris Johnson, King Charles, Suella Braverman, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: British, Conservative Party, United Nations, European, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, Britain, East, Europe

REUTERS/Peter Nicholls Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the government's scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, dealing a crushing blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before an election expected next year. But the top court on Wednesday unanimously ruled that migrants could not be sent to Rwanda because it could not be considered a safe third country. The Rwanda scheme was the central plank of Sunak's immigration policy as he prepares to face an election next year, amid concern among some voters about the numbers of asylum seekers arriving in small boats. Sunak said the government had planned for all eventualities and would do whatever it takes to stop illegal migration. After the ruling, a Rwandan government spokesperson said it took issue with the conclusion that Rwanda was not a safe third country.

Persons: Toufique Hossain, Peter Nicholls, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Robert Reed, Steve Smith, Boris Johnson, Reed, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson, Kate Holton Organizations: REUTERS, European, Human, Conservative Party, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, London, Britain, East, Europe, Sunak, Rwandan

☆ Explainer: What is the UK's Rwanda migrant deportation plan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

However, the first deportation flight in June 2022 was blocked by a last-minute injunction from the European Court of Human Rights, barring any removals until the conclusion of legal action in Britain. Some in the government have strongly hinted Britain would consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights if it thwarted the Rwanda scheme. Australia pioneered the concept of holding asylum seekers in offshore detention centres. Denmark has signed a similar agreement with Rwanda, but has yet to send any migrants there. The 27-nation EU is seeking to strike an agreement on how to share out the asylum seekers who arrived on its shores.

Persons: Peter Nicholls, Rishi Sunak's, Boris Johnson, Suella Braverman, Robert Reed, Sunak, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: Court, REUTERS, Supreme, European Union, Successive Conservative, RWANDA PLAN, European, of Human, British, Convention, Britain, EU, Commons, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, London, Britain, Ukraine, Hong Kong, RWANDA, Europe, Turkey, Egypt, Australia, Denmark

☆ UK's Sunak to Learn Fate of His Rwanda Migrant Plan This Week
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Michael Holden and Sam TobinLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on Wednesday on whether the government can go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a decision which could have far-reaching ramifications for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak hopes the Rwanda scheme will help stop the flow of migrants across the Channel from Europe in small boats, and so deliver one of his key policy pledges and energise his ailing premiership ahead of an election expected next year. PRESSING NEEDDuring three days of hearings, the judges heard from government lawyers who said there was a "serious and pressing need" for the Rwanda scheme. Rwanda has said it would offer migrants sent from Britain the opportunity to build a new, safe life. They also said asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda, and their argument has support from the United Nations' refugee agency.

Persons: Michael Holden, Sam Tobin LONDON, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Boris Johnson, Robert Reed, James, Alex Richardson Organizations: Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, East, United Nations, of Human Rights Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Britain, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan

☆ Explainer-What Is the UK's Rwanda Migrant Deportation Plan?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

WHAT IS BRITAIN'S RWANDA PLAN? The law also gives ministers the discretion to ignore European Court of Human Rights injunctions. That made the policy unlawful under Britain's Human Rights Act, which incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into British law. Some in the government have strongly hinted Britain would consider leaving the European Convention on Human Rights if it thwarted the Rwanda scheme. The 27-nation EU is seeking to strike an agreement on how to share out the asylum seekers who arrived on its shores.

Persons: Michael Holden LONDON, Boris Johnson, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: European Union, Successive Conservative, Conservatives, RWANDA PLAN, European, of Human, London's, Appeal, Human Rights, Convention, Britain, EU, Commons Locations: British, Rwanda, Britain, Ukraine, Hong Kong, RWANDA, Europe, Australia, Denmark, EU

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court will deliver its ruling on Wednesday on whether the government can go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, a decision which could have far-reaching ramifications for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Sunak hopes the Rwanda scheme will help stop the flow of migrants across the Channel from Europe in small boats, and so deliver one of his key policy pledges and energise his ailing premiership ahead of an election expected next year. PRESSING NEEDDuring three days of hearings, the judges heard from government lawyers who said there was a "serious and pressing need" for the Rwanda scheme. Rwanda has said it would offer migrants sent from Britain the opportunity to build a new, safe life. They also said asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda, and their argument has support from the United Nations' refugee agency.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Boris Johnson, Robert Reed, James, Michael Holden, Alex Richardson Organizations: Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, East, United Nations, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Britain, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan

Out of the 29 cabinet roles, at least 16 backed remaining in the EU, compared with 10 who supported leaving. Sunak's party still languishes around 20 points behind the opposition Labour Party before an election that must happen by January 2025. But as he was talking, he asked a former cabinet minister to the right of the party for her thoughts. With few Conservatives believing they can win the next election, others might follow her in preparing for a new job. For the Conservatives to stand a chance, they need to change that perception, and it's hard to imagine how bringing David Cameron back does that," he said.

Persons: David Cameron's, Rishi Sunak, Suella Braverman, Sunak, Liz Truss's, Braverman, Cameron, Boris Johnson, Johnson, Dehenna Davison, Keiran, David Cameron, Kylie MacLellan, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: British, European Union, EU, Conservative, Labour Party, Liberal Democrats, Labour, Conservatives, Thomson Locations: England

☆ David Cameron: Why Rishi Sunak has brought the former UK PM back to frontline politics
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Peter Wilkinson | Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

London CNN —Ever since he became British prime minister a little over a year ago, Rishi Sunak has tried to bring calm to the chaotic government he inherited. That might all have changed on Monday when Sunak surprised the Westminster establishment by appointing former Prime Minister David Cameron as his new foreign secretary. He was very much from the center of the Conservative Party and led the campaign to remain in the European Union. David Cameron leaves 10 Downing Street after being appointed foreign secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on November 13, 2023. British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street in 2016.

Persons: London CNN —, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson’s, Sunak, David Cameron, Suella Braverman, Cameron, Cameron’s, Carl Court, Braverman, Johnson, Toby Melville Toby Melville, Braverman’s, Matt Cardy, shouldn’t, it’s, don’t Organizations: London CNN, Conservative Party, European Union, Conservatives, Conservative, Britian's, REUTERS, Downing, European Liberal Democrats, Liberal Democrats, CNN Locations: British, Westminster, Brexit, London, Britain, Rwanda

☆ Suella Braverman fired as David Cameron returns to UK government
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Rob Picheta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

The hardline Home Secretary Suella Braverman was fired early on Monday morning, after making inflammatory comments about the policing of pro-Palestinian protests in central London over the weekend. Cameron served as prime minister from 2010 to 2016, resigning after Britain voted to leave the European Union in a referendum that he had called. Unlike Braverman, neither Cleverly nor Cameron are likely to go off script and lash out at the police or protesters. Monday marks the second time in just over a year that Braverman has been sacked as home secretary. Under Sunak, Braverman spearheaded a heavily publicised push to clamp down on small boat crossings made by asylum-seekers.

Persons: London CNN — Britain’s, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Suella Braverman, Sunak, Cameron, Downing, James, Braverman, London’s, Braverman’s, ” Neil Basu, we’ve, King Charles, Alec Douglas, –, Edward Heath’s, “, ”, —, ” Cameron, Tories ’, Carl Court, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Jeremy Hunt, they’d, Liz Truss’s shambolic, lambasting “, Keir Starmer, ” Starmer Organizations: London CNN, Britain, European Union, Downing Street, Times, London, Sunak, BBC, Downing, Conservative Party, Liberal Democrats, Tories, EU, Braverman, Human, Rwanda –, Conservatives, Labour Party Locations: London, Braverman, Downing, Westminster, Cameron, Rwanda, Britain, United Kingdom

☆ Factbox-Seven Turbulent Years: British Ministerial Churn Since the Brexit Vote
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

PRIME MINISTERCameron served as prime minister until July 13, 2016, three weeks after the Brexit vote on June 23. She holds the record for Britain's shortest-serving prime minister after she quit after 49 days, having triggered a financial market meltdown. Philip Hammond was foreign secretary from July 2014 until three weeks after the Brexit vote in 2016. INTERIOR MINISTERBritain's interior ministry has changed leadership eight times since the Brexit vote, including Cleverly who stepped into the role on Monday. There have been 13 housing ministers since the Brexit vote, including six since Feb. 8, 2022.

Persons: Sarah Young, Rishi Sunak, David Cameron, Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Sunak, James, Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Johnson, Philip Hammond, Suella Braverman, Grant Shapps, Truss, Hunt, Kwarteng, Victoria Atkins, Monday, Steve Barclay, Gillian Keegan, Kate Holton, Alex Richardson Organizations: Sarah Young LONDON, British, European Union, Conservative Party, FINANCE, National Health Service Locations: Westminster, Britain, European, Truss, Crete, Kabul, Cameron

☆ Turmoil in UK government after key minister slams police ahead of pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

On Saturday, the UK will mark Armistice Day – the date commemorating the de-facto end of World War I. Also on Saturday, pro-Palestinian protesters will march through central London demanding a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Every living UK Prime Minister lays a wreath at the monument, along with other senior politicians, visiting dignitaries and members of the royal family. Banning such a protest in the name of those who died for precisely these sorts of freedoms is not the best look on Armistice Day. The Conservative Party’s poll ratings are poor and Sunak is already barely holding together a fragile coalition of parliamentarians.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Suella Braverman, Leon Neal, Banning, Sunak’s, Braverman, ” Braverman, Keir Starmer, Downing, Mark Kerrison, ” Sunak, Brexit, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, – Organizations: London CNN, Getty, London’s Metropolitan Police Service, Conservative, National Conservatism Conference, Emmanuel Centre, Conservative Party Locations: London, Israel, Downing, Times, England, Gaza, Northern Irish, Charing, Westminster

☆ Amazon founder Bezos plans move to Miami from Seattle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Billionaire American businessman Jeff Bezos arrives for his meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the UK diplomatic residence in New York City, New York, U.S., September 20, 2021. Michael M. Santiago/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 2 (Reuters) - Amazon (AMZN.O) founder Jeff Bezos said on Thursday he was moving to his childhood home of Miami from Seattle to be near his parents and his space firm Blue Origin's Cape Canaveral operations. Seattle, you will always have a piece of my heart," the billionaire said in an Instagram post on Thursday. Private space company Blue Origin's operations are increasingly shifting to Cape Canaveral, Bezos added. Amazon's rapid growth transformed Seattle's South Lake Union district, replacing warehouses and parking lots with offices towers, highly paid tech workers and expensive eateries.

Persons: Jeff Bezos, Boris Johnson, Michael M, Bezos, Abinaya, Lincoln Organizations: Billionaire, British, Thomson Locations: New York City , New York, U.S, Santiago, Miami, Seattle, Canaveral, Amazon's, Cape Canaveral, Lake Union, Bengaluru

☆ Elon Musk Discusses Perils and Benefits of A.I. With Rishi Sunak
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Adam Satariano | More About Adam Satariano | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Mr. Sunak said he believed A.I. While he encounters many voters worried about automation and job losses, Mr. Sunak said he believed A.I. By contrast, Mr. Musk, known for predawn social media posts and deliberately provocative statements, appears to thrive more in a state of improvisation and chaos. Mr. Musk has faced criticism for, among other things, allowing racist, antisemitic and hateful speech to thrive on X since he bought the platform last year. Mr. Musk, whose companies include Tesla and SpaceX, in addition to X, was perhaps the biggest name in attendance.

Persons: Sunak, Goldman Sachs, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Musk, Sunak’s Organizations: Conservative Party, Stanford University, Bletchley, A.I, SpaceX Locations: Silicon Valley, Britain

LONDON (AP) — A former top aide who has accused ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson of being unfit for office is scheduled to testify Tuesday at Britain’s public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesJohnson is due to testify at the inquiry later in the year. Cummings, a self-styled political disruptor, was hired by Johnson after helping to mastermind the victorious “leave” campaign in Britain’s 2016 European Union membership referendum. The U.K. has one of the highest COVID-19 death tolls in Europe, with the virus recorded as a cause of death for some 227,000 people. Johnson agreed in late 2021 to hold a public inquiry after heavy pressure from bereaved families.

Persons: —, Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, Johnson, Martin Reynolds, Imran Shafi, ” Cummings, Cummings, “, ”, Heather Hallett Locations: Britain’s, Downing, England, Europe

☆ Boris Johnson's response to COVID was 'mad and dangerous’- top official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 30 (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's approach to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic was "mad and dangerous" and his constant indecision made it "impossible" to tackle the virus, the government's top civil servant told officials. In the autumn of 2020 when the government was discussing how to suppress the virus, Case said of Johnson: "He cannot lead and we cannot support him under these circumstances. "This is in danger of becoming Trump/Bolsonaro level mad and dangerous," Case told other colleagues. Martin Reynolds, Johnson's former principal private secretary who appeared before the inquiry on Monday, said there was a culture of dysfunctionality and misogyny at the heart of government during the crisis. I think that remains an ongoing cultural issue, which I think we could have done more to address," Reynolds said.

Persons: Boris Johnson's, Simon Case, Case, Johnson, Donald Trump, Jair Bolsonaro, Martin Reynolds, Johnson's, Reynolds, Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper, Ed Osmond Organizations: British, Trump, Thomson

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING/SHANGHAI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - China will send Wu Zhaohui, a Vice Minister of Science and Technology, to a global summit on artificial intelligence this week in Britain, two sources familiar with the matter said. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Beijing earlier this month and met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, as Beijing seeks to boost ties with the Labour party ahead of a general election likely next year. China's science ministry and foreign ministry, as well as the Chinese Academy of Sciences, did not respond immediately to faxed requests for comment. Wu was appointed to his role in the science ministry in December 2022. Like many countries around the world, China has been caught up in a global craze over generative AI following the popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT last year.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Wu Zhaohui, James, Boris Johnson, Tony Blair, Wang Yi, Wu, Xi Jinping, OpenAI's ChatGPT, Laurie Chen, Brenda Goh, Miral Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Science, Technology, Labour, Chinese Academy of Sciences, HK, Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, Thomson Locations: Rights BEIJING, SHANGHAI, China, Britain, Beijing, British, London, Hong Kong, United States, Shanghai

Gavin Newsom is the latest to find out that plans for a confident jump shot can turn into a torrent of online potshots. On a trip to China, the two-term Democrat took a detour from his official meetings on climate change to join a group of Beijing schoolkids for a game of basketball. Video circulating online shows Newsom wearing slacks, an open-collared shirt and dress shoes while towering over schoolchildren on the court. The governor playfully twirls a basketball on a fingertip, then executes a spin move as he heads toward the basket. “Newsom destroys kid during basketball game in China,” celebrity website TMZ tweeted.

Persons: —, Gavin Newsom, Newsom, Boris Johnson, Bill Clinton, Al Gore, John Kerry, ” George W, “, ”, “ Newsom, TMZ, Xi Jinping Organizations: ANGELES, Gov, pats, ” Fox News, America, Santa Clara University, Los Angeles Fox News Locations: China, Beijing, British, London, Japan, Scotland

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