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☆ UK defense secretary says a Russian victory in the Ukraine war would 'signal to China that everything is up for grabs'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Read previewA Russian victory in Ukraine could embolden China, the UK's defense secretary, Grant Shapps, said on Wednesday. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Shapps was calling for continued support from the West for Ukraine in an op-ed for Politico, which was published Wednesday. During last year's APEC summit, Chinese leader Xi Jinping reportedly told President Joe Biden that China intended to take over Taiwan. Representatives for China's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Persons: —, Grant Shapps, Shapps, Putin, Donald Trump, William Burns, Burns, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden, Liu Pengyu, Liu Organizations: Service, Business, West, Politico, CIA, NBC, APEC, China's Embassy, Newsweek, Business Insider Locations: Ukraine, China, Russia's, Russia, Taiwan, Washington

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war rages as Gaza death toll rises
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25,000 people since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the enclave said Sunday. Israel's military said Sunday that military activities in Gaza were continuing, with "dozens of terrorists eliminated and large quantities of weapons located." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday he would not accept Hamas' demand for an end to the war in exchange for the release of hostages held in Gaza. International reaction: Biden has indicated he still believes Netanyahu can be convinced of a two-state solution to the conflict as the two remain at odds over plans for post-war Gaza. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called opposition to a two-state solution "unacceptable," while UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps called Netanyahu's comments "disappointing."

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Antonio Guterres, Grant Shapps Organizations: CNN, Sunday, UK Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Here's, Jordan, Palestinian, UN

☆ Missiles that a UK warship has used to shoot down Houthi threats are getting the ability to battle new targets
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The UK is planning to upgrade the missiles that it's used to destroy Houthi drones in the Red Sea. Sea Viper, an advanced air-defense system, is getting updated missiles and a software upgrade. AdvertisementThe UK plans to upgrade the missiles that one of the Royal Navy's warships has used to shoot down Houthi drones. Shapps confirmed in mid-December that the HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile to destroy a drone targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. AdvertisementThe HMS Diamond, a UK warship, responds to a Houthi attack on Jan. 9, 2023.

Persons: —, Diamond, Chris Sellars, Handout, Grant Shapps, Shapps, HMS Diamond, Anthony Rimington Organizations: Service, Royal, UK Ministry of Defense, Royal Navy, Prosperity, REUTERS, HMS, French Navy, US Navy, Sunday, US Central Command Locations: Red, Iran, Yemen, Gulf of Aden, British

☆ Ukraine's military spy chief says Russia would have struggled without North Korea's arms
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's military spymaster Kyrylo Budanov says Russia is reliant on North Korean weapons. Budanov said that for the Russians, using North Korean arms is an "indignity" to them. AdvertisementRussia would have been in a tough spot without North Korea's arms, says Ukraine's military spymaster. A shortage of arms meant the Russians had to turn to allies like Iran and North Korea for supplies. On January 5, the UK's defense secretary claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had to beg North Korea for their weapons.

Persons: Kyrylo Budanov, Budanov, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Grant Shapps Organizations: Financial Times, Service, Business Insider Locations: Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Iran

☆ Widening Mideast Crisis Israel to Make Case for War Before E.U. Amid Growing Criticism
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-22 | by ( Peter Baker | Adam Rasgon | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“My insistence is what has prevented — over the years — the establishment of a Palestinian state that would have constituted an existential danger to Israel,” Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement in Hebrew on Sunday. While there was no indication that Mr. Netanyahu would ease his strenuous opposition, which is popular with his fragile right-wing political coalition, Mr. Biden had expressed optimism that they might yet find consensus. President Biden and his top diplomat, Antony J. Blinken, have urged Israeli officials to move toward the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state. Mr. Netanyahu has rejected the idea of the authority returning to the enclave. Analysts pointed out that Mr. Netanyahu’s willingness to undermine his American counterpart was becoming routine.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, Biden, “, —, ” Mr, Netanyahu, Mr, Netanyahu’s, ”, Grant Shapps, Shapps, ” António Guterres, Guterres, Antony J, Bezalel Smotrich, Itamar Ben, Gvir, ” Khaled Elgindy, Peter Baker Organizations: Mr, White House, Sky News, ” Palestinian Authority, West Bank, American, Middle East Institute Locations: Palestinian, Gaza, Israel, ”, Washington

☆ British warship crashes into another Royal Navy vessel — for the second time
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-21 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The HMS Chiddingfold, a UK Navy warship, has been involved in a second crash. The mine-hunter collided with the HMS Penzance in 2021 and has now crashed into HMS Bangor. The collision took place off the coast of Bahrain, where the Bangor sustained damage. The two Royal Navy vessels, the HMS Chiddingfold and HMS Bangor collided while docking at port off the coast of Bahrain on January 18, sparking an investigation by the Royal Navy. Video footage of the latest maritime mishap has circulated on social media, that appeared to show the HMS Chiddingfold reversing into HMS Bangor.

Persons: —, Chiddingfold, Grant Shapps, Edward Ahlgren Organizations: UK Navy, HMS, Service, Royal Navy, Bangor, Mail, Navy, Ministry of Defence, BBC News, State for Defence, Sky News Locations: HMS Penzance, Bangor, Bahrain

☆ Qatar Pauses Red Sea Tankers After Western Strikes on Houthis
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In the latest shift by a major firm, state-owned QatarEnergy has held at least four LNG tankers back from the Red Sea, a senior source said, adding that production continues. On Monday, carmaker Suzuki said production would halt at its Esztergom plant in Hungary from Jan. 15-21 as the Red Sea attacks had delayed the arrival of Japanese-made engines. U.S. ally Britain said it had no desire to be involved in a Red Sea conflict but was committed to protecting the right of free navigation. The Al Rekayyat, which was sailing back to Qatar, stopped along its route on Jan. 13 in the Red Sea. "It is a pause to get security advice, if passing (through the) Red Sea remains unsafe we will go via the Cape," the source told Reuters on Monday about QatarEnergy.

Persons: Andrew Mills, Maha, Maha El Dahan, QatarEnergy, carmaker Suzuki, Britain, Grant Shapps, Qatar's Al Ghariya, Al Huwaila, Al, Ras Laffan, Al Rekayyat, Maha El, Emily Chow, Sachin Ravikumar, Chandni Shah, Andrew Cawthorne, Catherine Evans Organizations: Houthi, Reuters, Qatari Locations: Maha El, Maha El Dahan DOHA, WASHINGTON, Yemen, Gaza, Saudi, Israel, The U.S, U.S, Esztergom, Hungary, Ras, Suez, Oman, Jan, Qatar, Red, Europe, Asia, Aden, Djibouti, Davos, Singapore, Doha, London, Bengaluru

☆ New videos show intense strikes on the Iran-backed Houthis, who are vowing revenge after getting hit by well over 100 missiles
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US and UK carried out strikes against the Houthis in Yemen early Friday. The intense bombardment followed repeated warnings from the West over Houthi attacks on shipping lanes. Here's a video showing airstrikes conducted by Typhoon jets after Britain and the United States conducted air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. AdvertisementA Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet takes off ahead of the Houthi strikes. A munition is fired from a US Navy warship during the Houthi strikes.

Persons: —, readying, Grant Shapps, bR8biMolSx, tbN7ncJYpF, 5hzanSX1dH, Katherine Zimmerman, Lloyd Austin Organizations: US, Service, US Air Forces Central, Central Command, UK Defense, U.S . Central Command, Typhoons, UK Ministry of Defense, Typhoon, Defence, Biden, American, British, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defense, US Navy, Command, American Enterprise Institute Locations: Yemen, Iran, British, U.S, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Netherlands, Bahrain, @grantshapps, Britain, United States, Gulf of Aden, Israel, Australian, Washington

☆ The US gave the Houthis a final warning. The Iran-backed rebels answered with their biggest-ever missile and drone attack.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

download the appSign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementUS Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Carney defeats a combination of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on October 19, 2023. Advertisement"Ongoing Houthi attacks in the Red Sea are illegal, unacceptable, and profoundly destabilizing," the statement read. Retaliatory strikes against the Houthis would not be unprecedented — the Pentagon did so in 2016 following attacks by the rebels — but they would be escalatory. The Houthis, meanwhile, are not the only Iranian proxy group that has clashed with the US since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

Persons: —, I'm, Antony Blinken, Carney, MCS2 Aaron Lau, Houthi, Mohammed Hamoud, HMS, Grant Shapps, Barbara Woodward, We've, John Kirby, CENTCOM, Biden Organizations: Service, Business, US, Navy, US Navy, Pentagon, Getty, Biden, US Central Command, British, Royal Navy, United Nations, National Security Locations: Yemen, Iran, Washington, Bahrain, American, Israel, Amran, Anadolu, Red, Suez, Tehran, Iraq, Syria

☆ UK military faces $22 billion equipment shortfall, watchdog says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Britain's armed forces face an equipment funding shortfall of 17 billion pounds ($21.6 billion) over the next 10 years, a public spending watchdog said on Monday, a concern for defence chiefs at a time of heightened geopolitical risks. The National Audit Office (NAO) put the estimate for the budget for new weapons and equipment at 305.5 billion pounds for 2023-2033, 16.9 billion pounds over budget, the largest deficit since its first report in 2012. Russia's war in Ukraine has highlighted the need for extra military spending across Europe, with Britain an important ally and provider of military equipment to Kyiv. The government raised spending on defence by an extra 5 billion pounds earlier this year, increasing it to about 2.25% of gross domestic product this year and next. "The Ministry of Defence acknowledges that its Equipment Plan for 2023–2033 is unaffordable," NAO head Gareth Davies said in a statement.

Persons: NAO, Grant Shapps, Shapps, Gareth Davies, Sarah Young, Bernadette Baum, Timothy Organizations: Audit, Soaring, Ministry of Defence's, Defence, Ministry, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Britain, Ukraine, Europe, Kyiv

MOUNTAIN VIEW, California (AP) — From underwater drones to electronic warfare, the U.S. is expanding its high-tech military cooperation with Australia and the United Kingdom as part of a broader effort to counter China’s rapidly growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with defense chiefs from Australia and the United Kingdom at the U.S. military’s defense technology hub in Silicon Valley on Friday to forge a new agreement to increase technology cooperation and information sharing. The three nations have laid out plans for the so-called AUKUS partnership to help equip Australia with a fleet of eight nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS is an acronym for Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He added that as an island nation, Australia has a need for improved maritime drones and precision strike capabilities.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Richard Marles, Grant Shapps, Austin, Marles, Shapps, we’ve, aren’t, Adam Bry, Alex Horn, Horn Organizations: Pacific . Defense, Australian Defense, Defense Innovation Unit, Britain, U.S, Australian Navy, Solomon Islands, warfighters, Air Force, Morris Air National Guard Base Locations: California, U.S, Australia, United Kingdom, Silicon Valley, United States, Virginia, Adelaide, China, Pacific, South China, Beijing, Solomon, Taiwan, DIU, Arizona

☆ Britain sends Royal Navy ship to Gulf for security
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Britain has sent the Royal Navy ship Diamond to help bolster regional security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the government said on Thursday. The Diamond will "work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security", Britain said, conducting operations to ensure freedom of navigation, reassure merchant vessels and ensure the safe flow of trade. The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was seized by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in the southern Red Sea earlier this month. Britain already has the frigate Lancaster, three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship in the region. Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; editing by Grant McCoolOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Diamond, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Grant McCool Organizations: Royal Navy, Galaxy Leader, Yemen's, British, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Thomson Locations: Britain, Gulf, Yemen's Iran

☆ Britain to send seven Royal Navy ships to patrol areas with undersea cables
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it will send seven Royal Navy ships and a maritime patrol aircraft to take part in Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) patrols of areas with vulnerable undersea infrastructure next month. Europe and NATO have become increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure around and under the Baltic Sea. JEF, a 10-nation military alliance of northern European countries, is focused on security in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region. That followed explosions in September 2022 that ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea and cut Europe's supply of Russian gas. Vessels will be spaced to cover a wide area from the Channel to the Baltic Sea, it added.

Persons: JEF, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Royal Navy, Expeditionary Force, NATO, British, Royal Fleet, Royal Air Force, Channel, Thomson Locations: Britain, Europe, Baltic, North Atlantic, Sweden, Estonia, Finnish, Estonian

☆ Britain Sends Royal Navy Ship to Gulf for Security Operations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has sent the Royal Navy ship Diamond to help bolster regional security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean, the government said on Thursday. The Diamond will "work to deter escalations from malign and hostile actors who seek to disrupt maritime security", Britain said, conducting operations to ensure freedom of navigation, reassure merchant vessels and ensure the safe flow of trade. The Galaxy Leader cargo ship was seized by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis in the southern Red Sea earlier this month. "It is critical that the UK bolsters our presence in the region, to keep Britain and our interests safe from a more volatile and contested world," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said. Britain already has the frigate Lancaster, three mine hunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship in the region.

Persons: Diamond, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Grant McCool Organizations: Royal Navy, Galaxy Leader, Yemen's, British, Royal Fleet Auxiliary Locations: Britain, Gulf, Yemen's Iran

☆ Britain to Send Seven Royal Navy Ships to Patrol Areas With Undersea Cables
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it will send seven Royal Navy ships and a maritime patrol aircraft to take part in Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) patrols of areas with vulnerable undersea infrastructure next month. Europe and NATO have become increasingly concerned about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure around and under the Baltic Sea. JEF, a 10-nation military alliance of northern European countries, is focused on security in the High North, North Atlantic and Baltic Sea region. That followed explosions in September 2022 that ruptured the Nord Stream pipelines under the Baltic Sea and cut Europe's supply of Russian gas. Vessels will be spaced to cover a wide area from the Channel to the Baltic Sea, it added.

Persons: JEF, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Royal Navy, Expeditionary Force, NATO, British, Royal Fleet, Royal Air Force, Channel Locations: Britain, Europe, Baltic, North Atlantic, Sweden, Estonia, Finnish, Estonian

Defence Minister Yasar Guler said last week that Turkey was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Eurofighter Typhoon jets, though Germany objected to the idea. Guler was holding talks on the issue with his British counterpart Grant Shapps in Ankara on Thursday, the source said. Turkey wants to buy the most advanced, newly built version of the Eurofighter, he added. NATO member Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy 40 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and 79 modernisation kits for its existing warplanes. The Eurofighter Typhoon jets are built by a consortium of Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain, represented by Airbus (AIR.PA), BAE Systems (BAES.L) and Leonardo (LDOF.MI).

Persons: Yasar Guler, Guler, Grant Shapps, Joe Biden's, Leonardo, Tayfun Ozberk, Serhat, Huseyin Hayatsever, Jonathan Spicer, William Maclean Organizations: Eurofighter, . Defence, Eurofighter Typhoon, British, NATO, Turkey, Lockheed Martin Corp, U.S . Congress, Airbus, BAE Systems, Biden Administration, Eurofighter Typhoons, Kadir Has University, Turkish Air Force, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, United States, Turkish, Britain, Spain, Germany, Ankara, Italy

☆ 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

☆ 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 warships, aircraft, and a force of Royal Marines are joining a US Navy carrier strike group in waters near Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

There, they will join a US Navy carrier strike group that recently deployed to waters near Israel. "Meanwhile, a Royal Navy task group will be moved to the eastern Mediterranean next week as a contingency measure to support humanitarian efforts." The government said that the military package will be on standby to deliver support to Israel and its partners, and provide deterrence. It includes P-8 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, surveillance assets, three helicopters, a company of Royal Marines, and two Royal Navy ships — the landing ship RFA Lyme Bay and the casualty receiving ship RFA Argus. The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group includes the advanced, first-in-class aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, the guided missile cruiser USS Normandy, and guided missile destroyers USS Thomas Hudner, USS Ramage, USS Carney, and USS Roosevelt.

Persons: Israel's, —, Rishi Sunak, MARCOS MORENO, Sunak, Gerald R, Ford, Thomas Hudner, Ramage, USS Carney, MCS2 Jackson Adkins, Mustafa Hassona, Grant Shapps Organizations: US Navy, Service, Royal Marines, NATO, Royal Navy, Getty, Pentagon, Ford Carrier Strike, US Central Command, Ford, Saturday, Gaza, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Hezbollah, Anadolu Agency, Royal Navy Task Group, RAF Locations: Israel, Gibraltar, Normandy, Roosevelt, Gaza, Iran, Tehran, Lebanon

☆ UK-Led Coalition to Give Ukraine 100 Million Pound Mine-Clearing Support Package
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - A British-led group of European countries will provide Ukraine with a 100 million pound ($122.70 million) package to support its armed forces including equipment to clear minefields. Britain's defence ministry on Wednesday said Ukraine was "now the most mined country on earth," which had become an obstacle in its counter-offensive this year, and that mine clearing capabilities were essential to help it push forward. The package will be provided using money from the International Fund for Ukraine - a group of countries including Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden. Defence minister Grant Shapps will announce the package alongside allies and attend his first NATO-Ukraine Council, where he is expected to discuss the Israel-Gaza crisis and reported damage to undersea infrastructure between Finland and Estonia. ($1 = 0.8150 pounds)(Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William James)

Persons: Grant Shapps, Farouq Suleiman, William James Organizations: International Fund for, Defence, NATO, Ukraine Council Locations: British, Ukraine, International Fund for Ukraine, Britain, Norway, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Israel, Gaza, Finland, Estonia

☆ UK's opposition Labour on course for landslide election victory, poll predicts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer arrives with his deputy Angela Rayner ahead of the start of, Britain's Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool, Britain, October 7, 2023. REUTERS/Phil Noble Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party is on course to win a landslide victory at a national election expected next year, according to an opinion poll published on Saturday. It predicted a range of 402-437 seats for Labour, and 132-169 seats for the Conservatives. At the last national election in 2019, the Conservatives won 365 seats and Labour 203. The polling, which took place before the Conservatives' annual conference this week, found that in every constituency, the cost-of-living crisis and the state of the National Health Service were the two most important issues to voters.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Angela Rayner, Phil Noble, Rishi Sunak's, Survation, Oliver Dowden, Grant Shapps, Kylie MacLellan, Nick Macfie Organizations: Britain's Labour, Britain's Labour Party, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservatives, Observer, Liberal Democrats, National Health Service, Thomson Locations: Liverpool, Britain, England

☆ How Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went from pariah to pragmatic diplomat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to transform the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom. AdvertisementAdvertisementSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is on a mission to transform his country. Billboards show portraits of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) and his father and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz. US President Joe Biden (L) being welcomed by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) at Alsalam Royal Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 15, 2022. President Joe Biden gives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a handshake at the G20 summit this September.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he's, —, Prince Mohammed didn't, King Salman, Fahda bint Falah, Saud, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, AAMIR QURESHI, Muhammad bin Nayef, Prince Mohammed, Rash, Chris Doyle, GIUSEPPE CACACE, Doyle, he'd, Jamal Khashoggi, Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed a, Grant Shapps, Vladimir Putin's, Sanam Vakil, Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Vakil, Duaa, Pierre Crom, Dhainy, Prince Organizations: Service, Saudi, King Saud University, Saudi Arabian Crown, Guardian, Ritz, Carlton, Council, Arab, CIA, Royal, Anadolu Agency, Bloomberg, Washington, Chatham House, Associated Press, Fox News, European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, MBS, United Nations, Getty Images, Human Rights Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Riyadh, British, Istanbul, Jeddah, Ukraine, Iran, China, Israel, East, North Africa, Delhi, Neom, The Hague, Netherlands, Getty Images Saudi Arabia

☆ Britain’s Sunak issues rallying cry for a party that is already planning life without him
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

While the party establishment loathes Farage, Conservative members greeted him with open arms and requests for selfies after he arrived on Monday afternoon. The Conservative Party has always been a broad church, with competing factions jostling for supremacy. But Conservative Party members are rather different to the general public. Supporters applaud as Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the Conservative Party annual conference on Wednesday. Bookmakers' odds on the next UK general election are displayed outside the Manchester venue for the Conservative Party Conference on October 4, 2023.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, –, steadying, ” Sunak, Sunak, Nigel Farage, loathes Farage, Hannah McKay, Kemi Badenoch, don’t “, Justin Tallis, Jeremy Hunt, Jon Super, Brexit, Johnson, didn’t, “ He’s, ”, Braverman, Grant Shapps, Suella Braverman, James, Stefan Rousseau, Christopher Furlong, Rishi Organizations: England CNN — British, Conservative Party, Conservative, CNN, Conservatives, Euroskeptic, Independence Party, European Union, selfies, Britain's UK Independence Party, PM, Labour Party, European, Human, Labour, British, Getty, Conservative Party Conference Locations: Manchester, England, “, North, Midlands, London, Sunak

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 3: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tours the Exhibitor's Hall on Day 3 of the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, Britain, October 3, 2023. We've had 30 years of a political system which incentivises the easy decision, not the right one. Thirty years of vested interests standing in the way of change," he will say, according to excerpts of his speech. "Our political system is too focused on short-term advantage, not long-term success ... Our mission is to fundamentally change our country." "The Labour party have set out their stall: to do and say as little as possible and hope no one notices.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Carl Court, Sunak, Grant Shapps, we've, We've, Jeremy Hunt, Keir Starmer, Elizabeth Piper, Andrew MacAskill, Alistair Smout, William Maclean, Robert Birsel Organizations: British, Conservative Party Conference, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Conservative, Labour Party, Times, Euston, Labour, Thomson Locations: MANCHESTER, ENGLAND, Manchester, Britain, Rights MANCHESTER, England, English, London

☆ British troops could be sent to Ukraine as the country ramps up on-the-ground training efforts, UK defense minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

UK's Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps said he plans to send British troops into Ukraine. He told the Telegraph he aims to get military training "closer and actually into" the country. Ukraine relies on international allies for training and equipment as Russia's invasion drags on. AdvertisementAdvertisementUK troops may deploy into Ukraine for the first time to train soldiers as on-the-ground training efforts ramp up between the war torn country and its international allies. AdvertisementAdvertisementIn addition to offering training on the ground in Ukraine, Shapps said British defense companies like BAE Systems are moving manufacturing into the country.

Persons: Defence Grant Shapps, —, Grant Shapps, Shapps, I'm, We've, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: State, Defence, Service, State for Defence, The Telegraph, BAE Systems, British, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, US, NATO, ABC News, NBC News, Pentagon Locations: Ukraine, UK's, Russia, Crimea –, Britain, Kyiv

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