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☆ Javier Milei, Rishi Sunak and the War for the Soul of the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Gerard Baker | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +1 min

Gerry Baker is Editor at Large of The Wall Street Journal. His weekly column for the editorial page, “Free Expression,” appears in The Wall Street Journal each Tuesday. Mr. Baker previously served as Editor in Chief of The Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones from 2013-2018. Prior to that, Mr. Baker was Deputy Editor in Chief of The Wall Street Journal from 2009-2013. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, where he graduated in 1983 with a 1st Class Honors Degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

Persons: Gerry Baker, ”, Baker, Dow Jones Organizations: Street, Fox Business Network, Street Journal, Dow, Financial Times, The, BBC, Corpus Christi College, Oxford University Locations: London

☆ Group of Muslim countries to push for Gaza ceasefire -Turkish source
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ANKARA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - A newly formed group made up of senior officials from several Muslim countries will visit the United Nations Security Council's five permanent members and others to urge an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, a Turkish foreign ministry source said on Tuesday. "The primary goal of the contact group is for a ceasefire to be announced as soon as possible and for humanitarian aid to be sent to Gaza," the source said. The Palestinian militant group Hamas' Oct. 7 raid, the deadliest in Israel's 75-year history, prompted Israel to invade Gaza. The group will meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron during visits to Britain and France on Wednesday, the source said. Turkish media reported the group would visit France and Britain on Wednesday.

Persons: Hakan Fidan, Tayyip Erdogan, Fidan, Al Jazeera, Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron, Bernadette Baum Organizations: United Nations Security, Arab League, of Islamic Cooperation, Palestinian Authority, Security, Palestinian, Hamas, Turkish, British, Britain, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Gaza, Turkish, Riyadh, Turkey, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, Beijing, Israel, Moscow, Algeria, Turks, Istanbul

☆ UK borrowing figures give Hunt some room for tax cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Government borrowing between April and October totalled 98.3 billion pounds ($122.49 billion), the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Tuesday. The data meant borrowing was running about 22 billion pounds higher than in the same period last year but almost 17 billion pounds less than the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast in March, giving Hunt some fiscal room for manoeuvre. The ONS said that in October alone, public sector net borrowing, excluding state-owned banks, was 14.9 billion pounds last month. A Reuters poll of economists had pointed to public sector net borrowing, excluding state-owned banks, of 12 billion pounds in the month. The figure was also higher than the OBR's forecast for borrowing of 13.7 billion pounds in the month.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Laura Kuenssberg, Isabel Infantes, Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Liz, Michal Stelmach, Stelmach, William Schomberg, Kate Holton, Jason Neely Organizations: BBC Broadcasting House, REUTERS, National Statistics, KPMG, Labour Party, ONS, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

No question in British politics will be more regularly asked, and reliably brushed aside, over the next few months than when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak plans to call the country’s next general election. The conventional wisdom is that with his Conservative Party trailing the opposition Labour Party by 20 percentage points in the polls, Mr. Sunak will wait as long as he can. Given the fact that Britons do not like electioneering around Christmas or in the dead of winter, that would suggest a vote next fall. But some of Mr. Sunak’s colleagues last week pushed for an earlier timetable. Turning the election into a referendum on immigration might deflect attention from the economic woes plaguing Britain.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Sunak’s Organizations: Conservative Party, Labour Party Locations: Rwanda

In the letter to Musk and X chief executive Linda Yaccarino, the lawmakers noted reports from nonprofit organizations that showed people with X Premium accounts "glorifying barbaric acts of violence against Israelis." The letter is the latest fight between Musk, who bought Twitter and renamed it X, and those who have advocated for better content moderation. The lawmakers said X profited from the posts both from subscription fees as well as ads displayed in replies to both Premium and regular posts. "X has financially benefited from the spread of demonstrably false and misleading content as well," the lawmakers wrote. These are videos that carry official Hamas branding and iconography," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Rishi Sunak, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Linda Yaccarino, Musk, X, Adolf Hitler, Diane Bartz, Daniel Wallis Organizations: British, Rights, X, Twitter, Media, Nazi, Hamas, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, U.S, United States

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

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

☆ UK's Hunt to cut taxes to boost economy and election prospects
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Buoyed by a fall in inflation, Hunt plans to use his Autumn Statement budget update speech to parliament to shift the government's focus to fixing the long-running weak growth problem of the world's sixth-biggest economy. The Times reported that Hunt would cut the headline rates of national insurance for around 28 million people and make tax incentives for business investment permanent. After the meltdown in British financial markets last year, triggered by the huge tax cut plans of former prime minister Liz Truss, Hunt and Sunak have promised to move carefully. Hunt and Sunak announced major tax-raising measures a year ago to assuage bond investors after Truss's mini-budget. Many analysts say that in the coming years whoever runs Britain will have to raise taxes further, not cut them.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss, Sunak, William Schomberg, Mark Potter Organizations: Conservative, Labour Party, The Times, Bank of England, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Thomson Locations: Britain

☆ New York City investment chief calls on Tesla to sanction Musk unless he apologizes
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Ross Kerber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Lander's remarks make him the latest Tesla shareholder to call on the EV maker to rein in Musk. Musk endorsed an antisemitic post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Nov. 15. It remains unclear whether Tesla's board will take any action. If Musk fails to do so, Tesla's board should consider actions such as docking his pay, suspending him or terminating him, Lander added. He wrote to Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm on Monday that failing to take action would show Tesla's code of business ethics to be "toothless."

Persons: Tesla, Elon Musk, Rishi Sunak, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Brad Lander, Lander, Lander's, Ross Gerber, Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Robyn Denholm, Henry Ford, Nazism, Kristin Hull, Nia, Tesla's, Ross Kerber, David Gaffen, Sheila Dang, Greg Roumeliotis, Matthew Lewis Organizations: British, New York, Reuters, Nia Impact, Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SpaceX, Boring Company, Ford Foundation, White, Media, America, Defamation League, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, New, New York City, New York, Dallas

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

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Sunak’s Organizations: Conservative Party, Labour Party Locations: Rwanda

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

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

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

☆ 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

☆ This is the wildest coup in Silicon Valley history
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Michael Cogley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The wildest coup in Silicon Valley's history just took place over the last 48 hours. OpenAI booted CEO Sam Altman, nearly hired him back, then went with 2 other CEOs. Sam Altman has now been scooped up as an employee by Microsoft, OpenAI's biggest investor. Sam Altman had met with world leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in London earlier in the month. But Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has not let a good crisis go to waste.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Altman, —, Mira Murati, Emmett Shear, Greg Brockman, — Aaron Levie, ❤️ emojis, AngelList, Babak Nivi, OpenAI's, Rishi Sunak, Kamala Harris, Ursula von der Leyen, Alastair Grant, Ilya Sutskever, Adam D'Angelo, Tasha McCauley, Helen Toner, Mary, Gary Marcus, Sam, 👉, Gary, Satya Nad Organizations: Microsoft, Service, British, AI, Georgetown's Center for Security, Emerging Technology, usl Locations: London

☆ UK PM Sunak promises tax cuts after meeting his inflation pledge
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Alistair Smout | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Under pressure from within his traditionally low-tax Conservative Party, Sunak said his government needed to prioritise lowering the tax burden but stressed he would not repeat the unfunded tax cut plan that his predecessor Liz Truss announced last year, triggering turmoil in bond markets. Sunak said the government would cut taxes over time and would not do anything that added to inflation. "You can trust me when I say we can responsibly start to cut taxes," he said. Conservative lawmakers have long called on Sunak to cut taxes to help reduce the gap in the opinion polls with the opposition Labour Party before an election expected next year. Blowing tens of billions of pounds on unfunded spending is just as dangerous as blowing tens of billions of pounds on unfunded tax cuts," he said.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Jeremy Hunt, Sunak, Liz Truss, Hunt, Sarah Young, Alistair Smout, William Schomberg, Kylie MacLellan, Kate Holton, Christina Fincher Organizations: British, Conservative Party, Data, Conservative, Labour Party, Thomson Locations: Rwanda

☆ UK's next government will find tax rises hard to avoid
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( David Milliken | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But tax rises will be very hard to avoid for whichever party forms the next government, says James Smith, a former Bank of England economist who is research director at the Resolution Foundation, which focuses on issues affecting low and middle earners. For earlier governments, the main way to increase tax levels has been to raise the rate of national insurance - a payroll tax paid by employers and employees - and, in the Conservatives' case, higher value-added tax. Annual GDP growth averaged 2.0% from 2010-2019, compared with 3.0% from 1997-2007. Asked on Sunday about widespread reports of looming tax cuts, Hunt told Sky News: "Everything is on the table ... Higher-than-expected inflation has boosted tax revenue and overall GDP in cash terms, giving more leeway against fiscal targets as most public services' spending budgets are fixed.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak's, James Smith, Smith, Britain's, It's, Carl Emmerson, Hunt, Foundation's Smith, David Milliken, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, Labour Party, Bank of England, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Britain, Conservatives, Fiscal Studies, Foundation, Reuters, Monetary Fund, Institute for Government, Sky News, British, Reuters Graphics, Thomson Locations: City, London, Britain, Ukraine

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

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

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

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

☆ Fact Check: SNP’s Westminster leader held his Remembrance Sunday wreath correctly
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Comparison online of the way Britain’s party leaders held their poppy wreaths on Remembrance Sunday has sparked a false claim that the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) Westminster leader Stephen Flynn held his garland upside down. In an X post (archived) on Nov. 14, Flynn said his wreath was made by Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in Edinburgh, Scotland. Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory told Reuters that the card was placed at the bottom of the wreath. There are also differences in the designs of poppies, the Scottish National War Memorial spokesperson said. Stephen Flynn held his wreath the correct way up on Remembrance Sunday, according to the wreath maker, who said the card was deliberately placed at the bottom.

Persons: Stephen Flynn, Flynn, Ed Davey, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Lady Haig’s, Lady Haig’s Poppy, Pam Gosal, Jackson Carlaw, Read Organizations: Scottish National, Facebook, Liberal, Conservative Party, Memorial, Reuters, Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory, Scottish, Thomson Locations: Scotland, England, Edinburgh

☆ UK says new science initiative to work on climate-resilient crops
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during the opening session of the Global Food Security Summit at Lancaster House in London, Britian November 20, 2023. Dan Kitwood/Pool via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce a new science initiative to bring together work on developing climate-resilient crops as his government hosts a Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday. The summit, a joint initiative between Britain, Somalia, the UAE, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is due to be attended by representatives from more than 20 countries. "We must take action to address the underlying, and often unseen, causes of global food insecurity," Sunak said. ($1 = 0.8025 pounds)Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by David HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Dan Kitwood, Melinda Gates, Sunak, Kylie MacLellan, David Holmes Organizations: British, Global Food Security, Lancaster House, Britian, REUTERS Acquire, Food Security, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Melinda Gates Foundation, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Somalia, UAE, Ukraine, British, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Malawi

Sunak told delegates that a “fundamental shift” is needed to confront a food-security crisis that is being worsened by climate change. He focused on the role of science and said the U.K. would set up a “virtual science hub” linking international researchers working on more resilient crops. “Climate change, conflict and population rise mean ever greater challenges to food supplies," Sunak said. “So we need a fundamental shift in the way we approach food security, with a focus on long-term solutions to stop food crises before they start. Political Cartoons View All 1256 ImagesThe summit coincided with publication of a “re-energized” U.K. development strategy aimed at ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Melinda Gates, ’, David Cameron, ”, Melanie Ward, that’s Organizations: British, Food Security, United Arab Emirates, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Melinda Gates Foundation, Lancaster House, Medical Aid Locations: London, U.K, Somalia, Lancaster, Israel, Gaza, “, ”, United States

☆ South Korea's Yoon seeks stronger economic, security ties on UK state visit
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a summit discussion, on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, at the Stanford, California, U.S., November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsSEOUL, Nov 20 (Reuters) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol heads to Britain on Monday for a state visit, hoping to boost economic ties and enhance security partnerships to counter North Korea's evolving threats and other regional challenges. Yoon will receive a guard of honour and ride in a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace, according to the palace. Yoon has expressed hope for deeper cooperation with Britain on an "array of geopolitical risks" including supply chains and energy security, the Telegraph said. From Britain, Yoon will head to France for a visit aimed at bolstering support for South Korea's hosting the 2030 World Expo, his office said.

Persons: Yoon Suk Yeol, Brittany Hosea, Yoon Suk, King Charles, Yoon, Rishi Sunak, Yoon's, Lee, woon, Soo, Choi, Ed Davies, Gerry Doyle Organizations: South, Economic Cooperation, Stanford, REUTERS, Rights, Britain, The Telegraph, West, Telegraph, APEC, International, Thomson Locations: Asia, California, U.S, Rights SEOUL, Britain, North Korea, Ukraine, Gaza, Russia, South China, Buckingham, San Francisco, France, Paris

☆ UK Says New Science Initiative to Work on Climate-Resilient Crops
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce a new science initiative to bring together work on developing climate-resilient crops as his government hosts a Global Food Security Summit in London on Monday. The summit, a joint initiative between Britain, Somalia, the UAE, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is due to be attended by representatives from more than 20 countries. "We must take action to address the underlying, and often unseen, causes of global food insecurity," Sunak said. Priorities will include mobilising international finance and harnessing innovation, Britain's Foreign Office said. ($1 = 0.8025 pounds)(Reporting by Kylie MacLellan; Editing by David Holmes)

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Melinda Gates, Sunak, Kylie MacLellan, David Holmes Organizations: British, Food Security, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Melinda Gates Foundation Locations: London, Britain, Somalia, UAE, Ukraine, British, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Malawi

"We do want to bring down the tax burden but we will only do so responsibly," Hunt told Sky News. "The one thing we won't do is any kind of tax cut that fuels inflation." OPTIONS LIMITED AFTER HEAVY SPENDINGLabour's finance spokesperson Rachel Reeves said cutting inheritance tax would be the wrong priority in a cost-of-living crisis. "Lower taxes on working people - if the government can explain where the money is coming from - is something I would support," Reeves told Sky News. "We want to show people there is a path to lower taxes but we also want to be honest with people this is not going to happen overnight."

Persons: Hunt, Jeremy Hunt, Rishi Sunak, Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Kylie MacLellan, Andy Bruce, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Sunday Times, Labour, Sky News, Times Radio, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Organisation for Economic Co, Development, Britain, Thomson Locations: British

LONDON (AP) — U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt says the government can afford to lower some taxes now that inflation is falling, but that any cuts will come along with a squeeze on welfare benefits. British media have reported that there will be relief for businesses and wealthy property-owners in Hunt’s autumn budget statement on Wednesday. But he cautioned to broadcasters on Saturday that “there’s no easy way to reduce the tax burden. The most likely tax cuts are a reduction in corporation tax and slashing inheritance tax, a move that would help the wealthy. Only about 4% of estates have to pay inheritance tax.

Persons: Jeremy Hunt, Hunt, “, ” Hunt, Rishi Sunak’s, Liz Truss, Ken Clarke, “ I’m, ” Organizations: Treasury, Saturday's Daily Telegraph, Conservative, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative, Bank of England’s, Labour Party, Conservative Treasury Locations: Ukraine

The White House on Friday lashed out at Elon Musk for promoting "Antisemitic and racist hate" after the Tesla CEO and X Corp. owner said he agreed with a social media post accusing "Jewish communities" of pushing "hatred against whites." Musk, responding on X, wrote that that post "said the actual truth." Bates appeared to be referring to the mass murder at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, in which 11 people were shot to death by a gunman who expressed a belief in the antisemitic "white genocide" conspiracy theory. "We condemn this abhorrent promotion of Antisemitic and racist hate in the strongest terms, which runs against our core values as Americans," Bates said. Spokespeople for Tesla and X did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests for comment on the White House's statement.

Persons: Elon Musk, Rishi Sunak, Andrew Bates, Bates, " Bates, Musk, Jonathan Greenblatt Organizations: Tesla Inc, Elon, X Corp, Synagogue, Defamation League Locations: London, Pittsburgh, Israel, America

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