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☆ Britain aims for global leadership role with AI safety summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - Britain will host the world's first global artificial intelligence (AI) safety summit next month, aiming to carve out a role following Brexit as an arbiter between the United States, China, and the European Union in a key tech sector. The Nov. 1-2 summit will focus heavily on the existential threat some lawmakers, including Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, fear AI poses. Sunak, who wants the UK to become a hub for AI safety, has warned the technology could be used by criminals and terrorists to create weapons of mass destruction. Critics question why Britain has appointed itself the centre of AI safety. "We are now reflecting on potential EU participation," a spokesperson told Reuters.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Alan Turing, Kamala Harris, Demis, Matt Clifford, Clifford, we're, Stephanie Hare, Elon Musk, Geoffrey Hinton, Britain, OpenAI, Marc Warner, it's, Vera Jourova, Brando Benifei, Dragos Tudorache, Benifei, Jeremy Hunt, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Mark Potter Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, Britain's, EU, Bletchley, Google, San, Reuters, China . Finance, Politico, Thomson Locations: Britain, United States, China, England, British, France, Germany, London, U.S, San Francisco, Beijing, Europe

☆ Israel's Netanyahu says Hamas attack was aimed at derailing peace
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Rami Amichai | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSummary Netanyahu says Hamas attack aimed at derailing peace bidSunak welcomes aid decision for GazaSunak due to meet Saudi crown princeJERUSALEM, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday the Hamas attack on Israel was aimed at preventing the expansion of peace in the Middle East, and called on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to keep supporting Israel's Gaza counteroffensive. Netanyahu said the attack from Gaza by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which killed 1,400 people in Israel, was aimed at derailing attempts to establish a wider peace in the region. At least nine British nationals have been killed and seven are still missing since the attack on Israel, Sunak's spokesperson said. In Israel, Sunak met the families of two of the missing, who are believed to have been taken hostage and held in Gaza. The last British prime minister to visit Israel and the occupied West Bank was David Cameron in 2014.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden, Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Netanyahu, Sunak, JERUSALEM, Rishi Sunak, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Isaac Herzog, Israel, Herzog, Sunak's, James, Sameh Shoukry, David Cameron, Rami Amichai, Kylie MacLellan, Sarah Young, William James, Alistair Smout, Sachin Ravikumar, Dan Williams, Elizabeth Piper, Angus MacSwan, Alison Williams, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S, Hamas, REUTERS, British, Israel, Crown, Palestinian, West Bank, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Saudi, Jerusalem, Saudi Arabia, U.S, British, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Britain, London, United States, North Africa, South Asia

☆ Scottish leader says wife's parents risk running out of food in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Yousaf's parents-in-law live in Scotland but were visiting relatives in Gaza when Hamas militants poured into Israel and killed 1,300 people last weekend. "There is no doubt that collective punishment is a breach of international law," he said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told parliament on Monday that Israel must defend itself in line with international humanitarian law. Diplomatic efforts are continuing to get aid into the enclave as food, fuel and water run short. He added that his brother-in-law, who works as a doctor, is having to make decisions about who should be treated, while the hospitals in Gaza run out of body bags.

Persons: Humza Yousaf, Yousaf's, Israel, Yousaf, Elizabeth, Maged, Nakla, Gerhard, Rishi Sunak, Andrew MacAskill, Kate Holton, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: Reuters, Scottish National Party, REUTERS, London ., Thomson Locations: Gaza, ABERDEEN, Scotland, Israel, Aberdeen, Britain, British, London, London . British, Dundee, Palestinian, Scottish, Glasgow, Pakistan, Kenya

☆ Exclusive: Britain, South Korea agree to extend tariff-free trade for two years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A Union Jack flag flutters in front of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, November 5, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Britain and South Korea have agreed to extend a period of low or zero tariffs on bilateral trade by two years, ahead of talks to forge a new trade deal, the British government said on Monday, in a boost for the car industry. Annual trade between Britain and South Korea is worth 18 billion pounds ($21.9 billion), and the two sides will begin talks later this year on a new trade deal. Britain's minister for international trade, Nigel Huddleston, said extending the tariff-free period would provide welcome certainty for businesses. "This is fantastic news for UK businesses who can continue selling their fantastic goods with confidence to South Korea," Huddleston said.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Nigel Huddleston, " Huddleston, Mike Hawes, Hawes, Sachin Ravikumar, William James, Louise Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, European Union, EU, Society of Motor Manufacturers, Traders, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, South Korea, British, EVs

The deal was the biggest test of the CMA's global power to take on the tech giants since Britain left the European Union. "The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving competitive prices and services for UK cloud gaming customers," it said in a statement. Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. Activision Blizzard said: "The CMA's official approval is great news for our future with Microsoft, and we look forward to becoming part of the Xbox Team." The European Commission said the new commitments given by Microsoft to the CMA did not interfere with its EU commitments.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jeremy Hunt, Sarah Cardell, Ben Barringer, Brad Smith, Activision Blizzard, Paul Sandle, Yadarisa Shabong, Aditya Soni, Foo Yun Chee, Varun H, Kate Holton, Sonali Paul, Jane Merriman, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: CMA, Microsoft, LONDON, Activision Blizzard, Sony, Activision, Competition, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Entertainment, Britain, European Union, PlayStation, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, REUTERS, British, Finance, Xbox, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Britain, Cheviot, London, Bengaluru, Foo

Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. The deal was blocked in April by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) which said it could give the U.S. computing giant a stranglehold over the nascent cloud gaming market. The deal was the biggest test of the CMA's global power to take on the tech giants since Britain left the European Union. "The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving competitive prices and services for UK cloud gaming customers," it said in a statement. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission opposed the deal but after failing to stop it, the CMA was left standing alone.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Jeremy Hunt, Sarah Cardell, Ben Barringer, Brad Smith, Activision Blizzard, Paul Sandle, Yadarisa, Foo Yun Chee, Varun H, Kate Holton, Sonali Paul, Jane Merriman Organizations: Microsoft, Activision, REUTERS, CMA, LONDON, Activision Blizzard, Competition, Markets Authority, Ubisoft Entertainment, Britain, European Union, PlayStation, Sony, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, FTC, British, Finance, Xbox, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Britain, Cheviot, London, Bengaluru, Foo

WASHINGTON, Oct 12 (Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors say an Israeli private investigator used hackers to steal emails from climate activists who were campaigning against American energy giant Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N). Prosecutors stopped short of stating a connection between the Israeli private eye – former policeman Aviram Azari – and Exxon, and the memo did not identify any of his clients. Victims say that leaves a key question unanswered. Exxon pushed back, filing lawsuits that cited press articles, which suggested the activists were using underhanded tactics. “Azari facilitated the hacking scheme by directing groups of hackers, including a particular group of individuals based in India, to target specific victims,’” prosecutors wrote.

Persons: Damian Williams, parry, Prosecutors, Aviram Azari, Kert Davies, Paul Weiss, Bradley Campbell, Williams, Azari, Barry, “ Azari, ’, Raphael Satter, Christopher Bing, Leslie Adler, Richard Chang Organizations: U.S, Exxon Mobil Corp, Southern, of, Exxon, Climate Integrity, Natural Resources, Conservation Law Foundation, Exxon Mobil, Reuters, Thomson Locations: of New York, New York, Massachusetts, India, United States

☆ British Nationals Killed in Israel Attacks - London Police
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON (Reuters) - British nationals are among those killed or missing following attacks in southern Israel, London's Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism command said on Wednesday. Police said they were working with the British government to assist in bringing back the bodies UK nationals who were killed, and appealed for anyone in Britain who has direct evidence related to the attacks, such as footage or images, to contact police.

Organizations: London's Metropolitan Police, Wednesday . Police Locations: Israel, London's, Britain

☆ UK Top Court Suggests Months Until It Gives Rwanda Migrant Plan Decision
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Sam Tobin and Michael HoldenLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Supreme Court said on Wednesday it would be a couple of months before it gives its decision on whether the government could go ahead with its plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. Raza Husain, a lawyer representing eight asylum seekers, said those sent there were at risk of being returned to their home countries despite having valid asylum claims. He also argued asylum seekers faced inhuman or degrading treatment within Rwanda. The United Nations' refugee agency also intervened in the appeal, with its lawyers reiterating its "unequivocal warning against the transfer of asylum seekers to Rwanda". The Rwanda plan, struck by then Prime Minister Boris Johnson in April 2022, was designed to deter asylum seekers from making the dangerous journey across the Channel from Europe.

Persons: Sam Tobin, Michael Holden LONDON, Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Conservative Party languishes, I'm, Robert Reed, Raza Husain, Boris Johnson, Archbishop, Yolande Makolo, Michael Holden, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Lawyers, Conservative Party, European Convention of Human Rights, The United Nations, Rwandan, European Union, Labour, Rights Locations: Rwanda, East Africa, Europe, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, Britain, Canterbury, Rwandan

☆ Scotland's leader fears for wife's parents 'trapped' in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf attends First Minister's Questions at the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, March 30, 2023. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON Oct 9 (Reuters) - Scotland's leader Humza Yousaf said on Monday that his wife's parents were "trapped" in Gaza, leaving him worried if they will survive an attack by IsraelThe parents of Yousaf’s wife were in Gaza visiting family when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel over the weekend. "They're trapped in Gaza. Therefore, you can imagine my wife and I are sick with worry about whether or not, frankly, our parents - my in-laws - will survive," he said. Reporting by Andrew MacAskill Editing by Bill Berkrot and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Humza Yousaf, Russell Cheyne, Israel, Yousaf’s, They're, they've, Yousaf, Andrew MacAskill, Bill Berkrot, Christina Fincher Organizations: Scotland's, Scottish, REUTERS, Hamas, BBC, Scottish National Party, Thomson Locations: Holyrood, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain, Gaza, Israel, Western Europe, British, London

☆ Amazon launches its first internet satellites as Jeff Bezos looks to rival SpaceX's Starlink
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The first two satellites for Amazon's Project Kuiper internet service were launched on Friday. AdvertisementAdvertisementAmazon launched its first two satellites into orbit on Friday in a challenge to Elon Musk's Starlink internet service. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe launch was delayed from late 2022 after changes were made to the rocket-delivery system used to launch the satellites. United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the first two demonstration satellites for Amazon's space internet network. Thank you to all of our customers around the world 🛰️🌎❤️ → https://t.co/D6L8BSisQq pic.twitter.com/jVfWTEfHkz — Starlink (@Starlink) September 23, 2023Satellite internet networks bring faster connectivity to rural communities, bridging the digital gap.

Persons: Elon Musk's Starlink, —, Elon Musk's, Rajeev Badyal, Elon Organizations: Service, Atlas, United Launch, Kuiper, United Launch Alliance, V, Anadolu Agency, SpaceX

REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - The British government will try next week to persuade judges at the country's top court to overturn a ruling which declared unlawful its divisive plan to deport to Rwanda asylum seekers who arrive in small boats across the Channel. The stakes for Sunak are high, as he has made dealing with immigration one of his five priorities. This year, more than 25,000 people have arrived in Britain on small boats, while a record 45,755 were detected in 2022. Housing some of those migrants in hotels costs about 6 million pounds a day. Polls show high immigration remains a major concern to voters, although conversely also suggest there is support for migrants filling labour shortages.

Persons: Suella Braverman, Paul Rwigamba, Flora Uwayezu, Stringer, Rishi Sunak's, Brendan Clarke, Smith, Sunak, Boris Johnson, of Canterbury, King Charles, Robert Reed, Clarke, Michael Holden, Kate Holton, Angus MacSwan Organizations: British, Property Management, REUTERS, Conservative, Reuters, Conservative Party, European Union, Thomson Locations: Kigali Rwanda, British, Rwanda, London's, East Africa, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Vietnam, Sudan, Europe, Britain, East, Africa, Afghanistan, Angus

☆ Britain's Keir Starmer plots painstaking path to power
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

[1/2] British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain, May 24, 2023. Hours later, those from the opposition Labour party were summoned by senior members in charge of discipline and ordered to delete the posts and apologise. Welcome to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. "Thanks to Keir Starmer's leadership, voters see a changed Labour Party that is ready to change the country with a mission-driven government," a Labour spokesperson said when asked to comment for this story. 'CORBYN WITHOUT THE MADNESS'Named after the founder of the Labour Party, Keir Hardie, Starmer was brought up in a staunchly left-wing household.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Gene Simmons, Simmons, Islam, Keir Starmer's, Jeremy Corbyn, we've, Starmer, Tony Blair, Rishi Sunak, Keir Hardie, Charlie Falconer, Claire Ainsley, Olaf Scholz, Australia's Anthony Albanese, Ainsley, Falconer, COVID, Keir, Mark Stephens, Blair, Starmer's, Andrew Cooper, David Cameron, Cooper, David Clarke Organizations: British Labour Party, REUTERS, Labour, Reuters, Keir Starmer's Labour Party, Conservatives, Conservative, Labour Party, Policy Institute, Labor Party, Public Prosecutions, Critics, Board, Police Service, Northern, Human, OF, DPP, of Human, Reigate Grammar, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Australia, Germany, U.S, Caribbean, Uganda, Reigate

☆ Turkish cargo ship hits mine in Black Sea, sustains minor damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A Turkish-flagged general cargo ship hit a mine on Thursday in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage but the crew was safe, maritime and security sources said. The vessel dropped anchor for a short period to assess the damage," Ambrey said in a note. The Black Sea area has been listed as a high risk zone by insurers and floating mines remain a peril. Since then, Ukraine has set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" for cargo vessels, and several ships have left Ukrainian Black Sea ports since August. Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports, the British government said on Wednesday citing intelligence.

Persons: Ambrey, Yoruk Isik, Kafkametler, Jonathan Saul, Pavel Poltityuk, Sandra Maler Organizations: Bosphorus Observer, Reuters, Kafkametler, Thomson Locations: Romania, British, Sulina, Istanbul, Vylkove, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, London, Kyiv

Treasury yields later receded on a cooler-than-expected U.S. private payrolls report that helped stocks on Wall Street rebound from Tuesday's sharp sell-off. "The market was so over-sold that it was looking for a catalyst to rally on and found it in ADP." The yield on 10-year Treasury notes touched 4.884%, a fresh 16-year high, while 30-year Treasury yields rose above 5% for the first time since August 2007. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAustralian, Canadian and British government bond yields have also surged this week. Gold prices crept lower for the eighth consecutive session as elevated Treasury yields amid expectations that the Fed will keep rates higher for longer weighed on investor sentiment.

Persons: Kim Rupert, Rupert, Rhys Williams, Brendan McDermid, Kit Juckes, Brent, Herbert Lash, Tom Wilson, Tom Westbrook, Simon Cameron, Moore, Will Dunham, Mark Potter Organizations: Treasury, ADP, Management, Institute for Supply Management, Federal Reserve, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Bank of Japan, New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights Australian, U.S ., Thomson Locations: San Francisco, Bryn Mawr , Pennsylvania, U.S, New York City, Asia, Pacific, Japan, Tokyo, Russia, London, Sydney

☆ Contested statues must stay but with explanations, says Britain
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Estelle Shirbon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Then prime minister Boris Johnson and other ministers denounced this as censorship of history while activists and some public figures said the glorification of such figures in public spaces had to end. The culture ministry's new guidance said custodians of contested statues and monuments should comply with the government's policy to "retain and explain". The guidance, which applies to structures in public spaces but not inside museums, said explanations could include alternative media and creative approaches, not just texts. The Conservatives say they are fighting a far-left agenda that seeks to denigrate Britain and its history. The controversies echoed debates in other countries, notably the United States where historic statues honouring leaders of Confederate States from the Civil War era have also been contested and removed.

Persons: Cecil Rhodes, George Floyd, Eddie Keogh, Boris Johnson, Lucy Frazer, Edward Colston, Robert Milligan, Estelle Shirbon, Gareth Jones Organizations: Oriel College, REUTERS, Conservative, Labour Party, Conservatives, Thomson Locations: Minneapolis, Oxford, Britain, Bristol, stoke, London, United States, Confederate

☆ This Caribbean island was once plagued with rats that destroyed the ecosystem. Now, plant biomass has increased 2,000% thanks to environmental group efforts.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

When miners stepped foot on the island, they introduced invasive species that destroyed the habitat. The tiny island of Redonda, about a mile long, was formerly a haven for several species of seabirds. AdvertisementAdvertisementHumans deserted the island around the 1930s, but the mining operations left behind invasive species, mainly domestic goats and stowaway black rats, that wreaked havoc on the island's ecosystem. In 2016, environmental groups such as EAG launched restoration efforts to bring back the local plant life and animal species native to the island. We just removed the rats and the goats, and the island transformed right in front of our eyes," Bradshaw told CNN.

Persons: —, Brown Boobies, Johnella Bradshaw, haven't, Bradshaw Organizations: Service, British, BBC, Environmental, CNN Locations: Redonda, Caribbean, Antigua, Barbuda, EAG's Redonda

Energy Security Minister Claire Coutinho said that Rosebank would be less emissions-intensive compared with older oil and gas developments because they were designed with mitigations in place. Environmental campaigners had urged the government to halt development of Rosebank, saying it contravened the plan for a net-zero economy. Uplift, a campaign group opposed to Rosebank, said Britain would struggle to benefit from Rosebank as most of the oil would be processed abroad. "By approving Rosebank, Rishi Sunak has confirmed he couldn't care less about climate change," Uplift executive director Tessa Khan said. The North Sea Transition Authority, the UK regulator, said it had taken Rosebank's emissions into account in relation to Britain's climate plan.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Claire Coutinho, Sunak, Caroline Lucas, Rosebank, Tessa Khan, Sarah Young, William James, Ron Bousso, Kate Holton, Jane Merriman Organizations: Energy, Environmental, Green Party, Labour Party, Ithaca Energy, Ithaca Energy's, Transition, Thomson Locations: Ithaca, Britain, Oslo, Rosebank, Equinor

☆ Rosebank: Britain approves huge, controversial oil and gas field in the North Sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The British government approved the development of a huge oil and gas field in the North Sea Wednesday, sealing its commitment to keep producing fossil fuels for decades to come. “We have today approved the Rosebank Field Development Plan which allows the owners to proceed with their project,” said a spokesperson for oil and gas regulator the North Sea Transition Authority in a statement. The spokesperson added the decision had been made “taking net zero considerations into account throughout the project’s lifecycle.” Net zero is where the world removes at least as much planet-heating pollution as it emits. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently said he wanted to “max out” oil and gas developments in the North Sea and issue hundreds of new licenses. “Even when we’ve reached net zero in 2050, a quarter of our energy needs will come from oil and gas.

Persons: “, ”, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, we’ve, ” Sunak, Tessa Khan, Lyndsay Walsh, Rosebank, Claire Coutinho Organizations: CNN, Transition, International Energy Agency, Oxfam, Shell Locations: Shetland, Scotland, Norwegian, North, Rosebank

"The UK has been one of the real leaders in climate diplomacy and in their own emissions reductions," Ireland’s climate minister Eamon Ryan told Reuters. But according to the Climate Change Committee’s June 2023 progress report to parliament, to hit mid-way climate targets, Britain must quadruple its annual emissions reductions outside the electricity supply sector by 2030. He said he was changing the policy because previous governments had moved too quickly to set net zero targets, without securing the support of the public. Delaying net zero transition investments could prove politically popular, analysts observed, if an election was on the horizon. But "this framing only works if you think climate policy is a burden", said Bob Ward, a climate policy researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science, adding that avoiding short-term costs was likely to lead to a greater bill for taxpayers down the road.

Persons: Eamon Ryan, Rishi Sunak, Bob Ward, Britain's, Simone Tagliapietra, Sunak’s, Philip Dunne, Susanna Twidale, Gloria Dickie, Kate Abnett, Elizabeth Piper, Ed Osmond, Alison Williams Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, London School of Economics, Political, Global, Thomson Locations: Britain, Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Netherlands, Brussels, U.S, London

☆ Britain signs state-level trade accord with Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Britain had hoped for a sweeping bilateral trade deal with the United States after splitting from the European Union, but with President Joe Biden putting all talks on free trade agreements on hold, the British government has pursued state-level agreements instead. The British trade ministry said aerospace would be a priority sector under the Washington MoU, with Boeing (BA.N) being based in the state. The MoU with Washington is the sixth such agreement with a U.S. state. Washington state is also the home of Amazon (AMZN.O), Starbucks (SBUX.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O), and is the state with the 11th highest gross domestic product (GDP). The six U.S. states covered by MoUs with Britain have a combined GDP of over 2 trillion pounds ($2.4 trillion), Britain said.

Persons: Nusrat Ghani, Kirsty Wigglesworth, Britain, Joe Biden, Ghani, Alistair Smout, William James Our Organizations: Britain's, State Department for Business, Conference, U.S, European Union, Boeing, Starbucks, Microsoft, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, London, Britain, U.S ., Washington, Florida , Texas, California, United States, British, U.S

☆ Ladbrokes owner Entain warns on online gaming revenue
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Sept 25 (Reuters) - Ladbrokes owner Entain (ENT.L) warned on its online net gaming revenues for the third quarter and the full-year on Monday, as the British gambling firm grapples with ongoing regulation in the industry, particularly in the UK, and slower growth in Australia and Italy. The owner of online brands bwin and partypoker, said it expects third-quarter online net gaming revenue to be down by "high single digit percent" on a pro-forma basis. It also expects group online gaming revenue for the full year to be down "low single digit percent" on a pro-forma basis. Meanwhile, sports-betting service BetMGM, which Entain jointly owns with MGM Resorts (MGM.N) was on track to report positive core profit in the second half and full-year gaming revenues at the top end of its expectations, the British company said. ($1 = 0.8170 pounds)Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; editing by Eileen Soreng and Louise HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Entain, Eva Mathews, Eileen Soreng, Louise Heavens Organizations: MGM Resorts, Turkish, Thomson Locations: Australia, Italy, London, Bengaluru

LONDON (AP) — The British government confirmed Sunday it may scrap a big chunk of an overdue and over-budget high-speed rail line once touted as a way to attract jobs and investment to northern England. The Conservative government insists no final decision has been made about the embattled High Speed 2 project. HS2 is the U.K.’s second high-speed rail line, after the HS1 route that links London and the Channel Tunnel connecting England to France. The government hailed it as a key plank in its plan to “level up” prosperity across the country. The government has also delayed work on bringing the line all the way to Euston station in central London.

Persons: Grant Shapps, ”, “, Shapps, Boris Johnson, ” Johnson, Andy Burnham, ” Burnham, Sadiq Khan, ” Khan, Rishi Sunak Organizations: Conservative, BBC, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester, Labour Party, Sky, London Locations: England, British, Birmingham –, London, Manchester, Ukraine, France, Birmingham

☆ I moved from the UK to Canada and work remotely. Tipping and sales tax are the biggest culture shocks.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Naomi Robinson, a tech management consultant, moved from the UK to Canada. She swapped London for Toronto, where she now works remotely while on a two-year visa. She broke down the visa process, her biggest cultural shocks, and how to navigate the big changes. I reached out to people on LinkedIn, who I saw had made a similar transition, and sought advice on the visa process, job market, and other crucial aspects of the move. In Toronto, I've discovered the importance of proactivity, putting myself out there, and staying authentic to who I am.

Persons: Naomi Robinson, I've, I'm, Katrin Ray Shumakov Organizations: London, Service, LinkedIn, Canadian, International Experience Canada, CN, IEC Locations: Canada, Toronto, Wall, Silicon, London, Toronto's, Toronto . London

☆ Senior leaders of Russia's military severely wounded during targeted strike on Black Sea Fleet HQ, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

On Friday, a Ukrainian missile struck Russia's Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Crimea. Russia has not confirmed any deaths but top military commanders were among those reported wounded. "This suggests that it wasn't just a strike on the Black Sea Fleet HQ, but timed to target key senior leaders during a meeting." AdvertisementAdvertisementEarlier this week, Ukrainian officials said a command post near the port of Sevastopol was damaged in a missile strike. Within the last month, Ukrainian troops also launched a cruise missile strike on a Russian shipyard, damaging two warfighting vessels.

Persons: General Alexander Romanchuk, Oleg Tsekov, Kyrylo Budanov, Ostap Yarysh, Budanov, Rob Lee Organizations: Fleet, Russian, Service, Black, Pentagon, of America, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Russian Ministry of Defense, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, Government of, Russian Federation, White House, Friday Locations: Ukrainian, Crimea, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Russia's, Zaporizhzhia, Russian, Sevastopol

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