Category: UK News

  • UK, France, Poland reaffirm support for Kyiv 

    UK, France, Poland reaffirm support for Kyiv 

    The priority for France was to “equip, support and help Ukraine to resist,” Macron told reporters as he prepared to leave Argentina to attend the G20 Summit in Brazil…reports Asian Lite News

    France, Britain and Poland on Sunday reaffirmed their support for Ukraine as Russia staged its biggest missile attack since August, targeting Ukraine’s power facilities with the winter setting in. French President Emmanuel Macron said the relentless air barrage showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “does not want peace and is not ready to negotiate.” 

    The priority for France was to “equip, support and help Ukraine to resist,” Macron told reporters as he prepared to leave Argentina to attend the G20 Summit in Brazil. “It’s clear that President Putin intends to intensify the fighting,”  he added. 

    He declined to comment on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s call with Putin on Friday, stressing that Ukraine’s allies “must remain united …. on an agenda for genuine peace, that is to say, a peace that does not mean Ukraine’s surrender.” He added that he would only consider a call with the Russian leader when the “context” was right. 

    In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that he has no plan to speak with Putin as he pledged support for Ukraine as the UK’s top priority at this week’s G20 summit. Speaking with reporters on the way to the meeting in Brazil, Starmer said he wouldn’t speak to Putin as Scholz did on Friday. 

    The call between the two leaders, which the Kremlin said was initiated by Germany, was the first publicly announced conversation between Putin and a major head of a Western power in almost two years. Ukraine’s Zelensky criticized the call and said it would only make Russia less isolated. 

    Ukraine’s allies fear that the election of President-elect Donald Trump, who has questioned US aid sent to Kyiv and spoken favorably about Putin, could alter support from Washington, its biggest backer. Starmer said allies have to double down now to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. 

    “We are coming up to the 1,000th day of this conflict on Tuesday,” Starmer said. “That’s 1,000 days of Russian aggression, 1,000 days of huge impact and sacrifice in relation to the Ukrainian people and recently we’ve seen the addition of North Korean troops working with Russians which does have serious implications.” The UK has committed $16.15 billion in aid to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. 

    Also on Sunday, Poland welcomed news that US President Joe Biden had cleared Ukraine to use long-range missiles against military targets inside Russia, something Kyiv had been urging for months. 

    “With the entry into the war of North Korea troops and (Sunday’s) massive attack of Russian missiles, President Biden responded in a language that (Russian President) V.Putin understands,” Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski posted on X. 

    “The victim of aggression has the right to defend himself,” Sikorski added in his post. “Strength deters, weakness provokes.” 

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long pushed for authorization from Washington to use the powerful Army Tactical Missile System, known by its initials ATACMS, to hit targets inside Russia. 

    Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that approval would mean that NATO was “at war” with his country — a threat he has made previously when Ukraine’s Western backers have escalated their military assistance to Kyiv. 

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  • Lammy assures no military trial for incarcerated Imran Khan 

    Lammy assures no military trial for incarcerated Imran Khan 

    The development comes as a major victory for the PTI, which has been intensifying efforts in recent months to bring attention to Mr Khan’s incarceration..reports Asian Lite News

    In response to concerns raised by British MPs regarding the imprisonment of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan, Foreign Secretary David Lammy in a letter to a Labour MP issued a detailed statement, saying there is “no indication” that Khan will be tried in military courts, Dawn reported. 

    According to Dawn, the letter was made public by Syed Zulfi Bukhari of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI), who hailed the development and told Dawn that Lammy’s response signalled the UK government’s values that “any valid democracy cannot have military courts”. 

    As per Dawn, the one-page letter was dated November 11 in which the foreign secretary addressed Labour MP Kim Johnson of Liverpool Riverside, saying, “While Pakistan’s judicial processes are a domestic matter, we have been very clear that the Pakistani authorities need to act in line with their international obligations and with respect for fundamental freedoms, including the right to a fair trial, due process and humane detention”. 

    Lammy added, “This applies to Imran Khan as it does to all Pakistan’s citizens.” He also expressed concern over restrictions on freedoms in Pakistan and emphasised the importance of democratic principles and the rule of law. 

    According to Dawn, the UK continues to engage at senior levels with the Pakistan government on such critical matters. 

    The development comes as a major victory for the PTI, which has been intensifying efforts in recent months to bring attention to Mr Khan’s incarceration through coverage in major international publications as well as in discussions with British parliamentarians, Dawn reported. 

    A group of 20 MPs from across party lines had recently urged Lammy to push for the release of Khan, calling his detention “politically motivated”. The MPs had expressed fears that Khan might face trial in military courts, labelling such a move as an “unlawful escalation”. 

    Dawn noted that Lammy addressed these concerns in his letter, and stated, “I have raised concerns about the potential use of military courts to try civilians, including Imran Khan. Such courts can lack transparency and independent scrutiny, making it difficult to assess compliance with international standards. We have no recent indications from the Pakistani authorities that they intend to try Imran Khan in a military court, but my officials continue to monitor the situation closely.” 

    Beyond judicial concerns, Lammy also brought to attention the issues regarding civil liberties and democratic values in Pakistan. “In our engagements with the authorities, we continue to underline that the freedom to hold and express views without censorship, intimidation, or unnecessary restriction is a cornerstone of democracy,” he said. 

    The letter also referenced the ongoing discussions between UK and Pakistani officials. Dawn reported that the UK’s foreign secretary noted that the UK minister responsible for Pakistan, Minister Falconer, had emphasised the importance of political rights and civil liberties in conversations with Pakistan’s Human Rights Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar. 

    Lammy also made note of the recent constitutional amendments passed by Pakistan’s parliament and underscored the importance of an independent judiciary to maintain democratic balance. 

    “While any amendment to Pakistan’s constitution is a matter for Pakistan, we have been clear that an independent judiciary, able to check and balance other state organs, is critical to a functioning democracy,” he noted. 

    Speaking to Dawn, both serving and retired diplomats said the UK government’s response is likely to be closely watched in Pakistan, as questions about judicial independence, civil liberties and political fairness have come under the spotlight. (ANI) 

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  • ‘India’s FTA talks with UK, EU on schedule’ 

    ‘India’s FTA talks with UK, EU on schedule’ 

    The official said that an impression is going around that FTAs are paused, which is not correct. ..reports Asian Lite News

    Negotiations for all the proposed free trade agreements, including those with the UK and European Union (EU), are progressing as per the schedule and the country’s FTAs are not paused, a top government official has said. 

    The official said that an impression is going around that FTAs are paused, which is not correct. 

    “All our FTAs, whether it is with the EU or UK, all are progressing as per the schedule,” the official said. In the coming weeks, a bilateral meeting is scheduled between the commerce secretary and the Director-General of the European Union to take stock of the negotiations for the proposed trade agreement with the European Union. 

    They will also meet as part of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC). Besides the EU and the UK, India is negotiating these agreements with Australia, Peru, Sri Lanka, and Oman. 

    In such pacts, two trading partners either significantly cut customs duties or remove the maximum number of goods traded between them. They also ease norms to promote trade in services and attract investments. India has so far implemented FTAs with a number of nations including Japan, Korea, Singapore, and the UAE. 

    According to the commerce ministry, the next round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement between India and South American nation Peru will be held after finalisation of the FTA strategy. The standard operating procedure (SOP) or strategy document for negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) is expected to be ready by the end of this year. It is an internal document aiming to standardise the processes of negotiations of these pacts. 

    The ministry has also informed that the negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement (CEPA) with Oman were completed in March this year, but further discussions are ongoing. 

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  • Met Office issues woolly jumpers alert 

    Met Office issues woolly jumpers alert 

    The unusually mild and dry weather conditions of November so far are set to be replaced by more typical patterns….reports Asian Lite News

    It could be time to get out the woolly jumpers, the UK Met Office has warned, as an Arctic blast brings the threat of plummeting temperatures, sleet, snow and ice. 

    The unusually mild and dry weather conditions of November so far are set to be replaced by more typical patterns. A yellow weather warning for northern Scotland kicks in at 4pm on Sunday, extending to southern Scotland and northern England on Monday evening into Tuesday. 

    The Met Office posted on X on Saturday: “Woolly jumpers at the ready! Temperatures are set to drop next week with wintry weather on the way.” 

    The Met Office meteorologist Ellie Glaisyer said it could be “quite a chilly start to the day” for many on Sunday and plenty of showers were expected to hit, particularly across northern parts of Scotland in the afternoon. 

    Sunday’s yellow weather warning from 4pm to 11am Monday is for northern Scotland, including the Orkney and Shetland islands. It warns of wintry showers with hail, sleet and some snow leading to slippery surfaces and difficult travel conditions. Snowfalls of up to 10cm are possible on high ground by Monday morning. On lower ground, the snow could rise to between 1cm and 3cm. 

    A second weather warning for southern Scotland, northern England, the East Midlands and north Wales is in place from 7pm on Monday until 10am on Tuesday. Forecasters predict rain, sleet and snow, with snowfall of up to 20cm on ground above 300 metres. 

    The forecast adds: “There is a small chance of snow settling at lower levels, where 5cm to 10cm would prove much more disruptive, but this remains very uncertain.” 

    The wintry weather will mean there is a risk of power cuts, travel disruption and icy surfaces, as well as a “slight chance” that rural communities will be cut off. 

    Drivers have been advised to allow more time for journeys and make sure they have the winter essentials in their cars: “Warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger.” 

    The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued yellow cold weather alerts for large parts of England, stretching from Sunday evening to Monday. It covered the east and west Midlands upwards. 

    The Met Office said temperatures overnight on Sunday into Monday were likely to be below zero in much of northern England and Scotland. Glaisyer said there could be “quite a hard frost likely on Monday morning, and this could lead to some icy stretches”. She urged travellers to “take care during Monday morning’s rush-hour”. 

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  • SNP plans to cut staff at party HQ 

    SNP plans to cut staff at party HQ 

    National secretary Councillor Alex Kerr said the move would “protect the long-term finances of the party”….reports Asian Lite News

    The SNP’s ruling body has proposed cutting the number of staff at its headquarters by more than a third, from 26 to 16. The party’s national executive committee (NEC) agreed to a proposal to “streamline” staffing during a meeting on Saturday. A voluntary redundancy scheme has been opened. 

    National secretary Councillor Alex Kerr said the move would “protect the long-term finances of the party”. The SNP, which has been in power since 2007, faces a resurgent Labour Party which increased its Scottish seats at Westminster from one to 37 in the summer’s general election. 

    Kerr said: “The national executive committee has been tasked with delivering a modern, dynamic election-winning party to win in 2026 and beyond – and today’s agreement to consult on a new structure at headquarters makes key progress to deliver on that aim. 

    “The proposal, agreed by the SNP National Executive Committee today, would get HQ into shape for future elections and for the fight for independence. It would mean that not everyone currently employed at HQ will continue with us but a streamlined headquarters protects the long-term finances of the party and delivers on the modern, professional, election-winning organisation Scotland needs.” 

    Kerr said the SNP’s success was built on the work of many people – at headquarters, in local campaign teams and those in elected office. He also thanked those who worked for the party and supported its aim of an independent Scotland. 

    The party suffered a heavy defeat in July’s general election and was left with nine, MPs compared to 48 in 2019. Along with the loss of its status as the third biggest party at Westminster, the SNP also lost out on a bulk of its so-called short money. 

    This is provided to opposition parties to allow them to carry out their parliamentary duties. Last month the SNP’s chief executive Murray Foote quit the post after 14 months. 

    The former newspaper editor said that he “could not make the necessary personal commitment” to leading a reorganisation of the party after their disappointing election performance.The SNP has also struggled for substantial donations in recent years, relying instead on membership fees. It is the biggest political party in Scotland, with figures from June showing it had 65,000 members. But falling membership numbers have triggered a drop in income. 

    The current membership is roughly half what it was after a surge following 2014’s independence referendum. This year, 81% of the party’s funding came from membership fees, compared to just 35% in 2015 – the year former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon led it to a massive 56 seats in the general election. 

    The party’s finances have been improving recently and its most recent accounts showed it was in surplus. Meanwhile, there is an ongoing police probe into the SNP’s finances. 

    The party’s former chief executive Peter Murrell, who is married to former first minister and ex-SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, has been charged with embezzling party funds. The Crown Office are currently considering whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Murrell, and whether a prosecution would be in the public interest. 

    Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested and released without charge, pending further investigation. 

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  • ‘We must stop UK territories laundering money’ 

    ‘We must stop UK territories laundering money’ 

    Mitchell and Hodge are understood to have corralled support from dozens of MPs across the political spectrum to ramp up the pressure before the joint ministerial council….reports Asian Lite News

    The UK’s offshore financial centres must fall in behind plans to stop “dirty money” by publishing registers of corporate ownership, leading political campaigners have said, as Labour pledged not to cave in to lobbying designed to weaken the proposals. 

    Labour’s Dame Margaret Hodge and the Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell hit out at “dither and delay”, ahead of this week’s summit between UK government officials and overseas territories, such as the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) and Cayman Islands, in London. 

    In an editorial for the Guardian, they accuse overseas territories and crown dependencies, such as Jersey and the Isle of Man, of trying to water down or ward off measures designed to counteract money laundering and other illicit transactions. 

    “We know all too well that the overseas territories and crown dependencies play a pivotal role in helping crooks and tax dodgers launder and hide their dirty money,” Hodge and Mitchell said. 

    “Dirty money underpins corruption, crime and conflict. It causes immense harm at home and abroad, enabling serious and organised crime and diverting resources needed for vital public services. Public registers, and the scrutiny that they bring, are the best antidote to the scourge of illicit finance.” 

    Mitchell and Hodge are understood to have corralled support from dozens of MPs across the political spectrum to ramp up the pressure before the joint ministerial council. The two-day event starts on Wednesday. 

    “We must stop the dither and delay of recent years and pierce the veil of anonymity that protects criminals and kleptocrats,” they said. 

    The duo accused offshore centres of reneging on a promise to introduce public registers by December 2023. A key point of contention is whether the registers would be open to everyone or only those with “legitimate interests”, such as anti-corruption campaign groups. 

    Some overseas territories are opposed to fully open registers and British lobbyists have been working with them in an effort to persuade the government to accept a “legitimate interest” compromise. In an online briefing to the BVI financial sector, viewed by the Guardian, a lobbyist and a lawyer acting for the IFC Forum – an umbrella lobby group representing offshore law firms – told their audience of the need to “educate” Labour MPs. 

    Oliver Cooper, a Conservative councillor and a lawyer at Charles Russell Speechlys, who acts as counsel for IFC Forum, said the foreign secretary, David Lammy, and Stephen Doughty, minister for the overseas territories, had “been sold on […] the IFCs [international financial centres]”. Stephen Doughty denied this. “I have been clear that where legitimate interest filters are implemented it must be to a high standard and as an interim step to full public accessibility,” he said. 

    “This will be key to bearing down on financial secrecy, which is the lifeblood of illicit finance including money laundering, and tax and sanctions evasion.” During the briefing, Mitchell Cohen, a public relations executive at Lansons Team Farner, said the offshore centres needed to engage with Labour to “detoxify any negative brands”. 

    He described Labour MPs sympathetic to Margaret Hodge’s position on registers as potential “forces of negativity” and said lobbyists needed to “neutralise” them with positive messages. 

    Cohen, who has advised several leading Conservative politicians and now advises the BVI government, said there was a hope that the Treasury would be open to stopping short of full public registers of beneficial ownership. “We know Treasury are a lot more pragmatic and are going to be pulling a lot of strings across government,” he said during the presentation, given shortly after Labour won the election. 

    A Foreign Office spokesperson said the government was pursuing fully public registers with “full vigour”. Hodge and Mitchell said: “If the overseas territories and crown dependencies will not accept the will of parliament we must use our powers to insist that they act.” 

    Hodge has previously called on the government to issue an “order in council” to compel overseas territories to comply and suggested the crown dependencies could be forced to follow suit, a proposal that would test constitutional convention and law. 

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  • Rising Islamophobia poses threat in UK, warns head of think tank 

    Rising Islamophobia poses threat in UK, warns head of think tank 

    Referring to last summer’s riots, Begum warned that without change, such violence could become recurrent….reports Asian Lite News

    The UK is witnessing an escalation in Islamophobia that risks becoming “brutally divisive,” with failure to address its underlying causes potentially leading to more racist riots, according to the chief executive of the Runnymede Trust think tank. 

    In an exclusive interview with The Guardian newspaper, Shabna Begum, who took the helm of the race equality group earlier this year, highlighted how political rhetoric has fueled the problem. “The way politicians talk about Muslims now is so derogatory, it’s in the most brutally divisive terms,” she said, adding that British political discourse had evolved beyond Sayeeda Warsi’s “dinner table test,” a phrase coined by the Conservative peer in 2011 which claimed Islamophobia had become socially acceptable.  

    Referring to last summer’s riots, Begum warned that without change, such violence could become recurrent. “(The unrest) was the ugliest representation of the years of racism that have been manufactured through the political media conversation. And if we don’t do something differently, that ugliness will become just a regular feature of our politics,” she said. 

    The Runnymede Trust’s report on Islamophobia, launched with backing from Warsi, Amnesty International UK, and the Muslim Council for Britain, documented increasing hostility faced by British Muslims. It cited Tell Mama’s findings of a 335 percent spike in hate incidents in the four months up to February 2024, with women disproportionately affected. 

    Police figures indicated that nearly 38 percent of religious hate crimes targeted Muslims, and anti-religious hate crimes reached a record high last year, coinciding with the Israel-Gaza conflict, which broke out on Oct. 7 last year. Begum emphasized that the issue extended beyond physical attacks to “state-sponsored Islamophobia” embedded in policies and narratives, without naming specific politicals, and added that the ruling Labour Party and the Conservatives had both been guilty of feeding a “bleak and dystopian” hostile climate for British Muslims. 

    She also highlighted the double standard faced by Muslims in public life, saying: “Whether it’s through being governors at schools, as we see through the Trojan horse affair … we are seen trying to take over and hijack local schools.” 

    She continued: “Or when we go on protest marches, along with many other people, we are described as hate marchers and Islamist extremists. And when we use our vote to express our political preferences, we’re described as sectarian and divisive.” 

    Drawing on her personal history as the daughter of Bangladeshi migrants who grew up in Tower Hamlets in London, Begum described how her upbringing had shaped her understanding of systemic discrimination. 

    After more than two decades as a teacher, she moved into academia, ultimately leading her to running the Runnymede Trust. While she welcomed a recent £15 million ($18.9 million) community recovery fund introduced by the UK government, she called for more substantial investment to combat structural racism. 

    “What we’re objecting to is a dispersal of insecure funds to community groups… There’s no point saying all Muslims are all bad, but go and have a cup of tea with them in your local community.” 

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  • More Funds For Mentoring 

    More Funds For Mentoring 

    Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) invests £2.3 million to expand mentoring in pupil referral unit. New funding means mentoring programme will feature in schools in all 32 London boroughs for the first time …reports Asian Lite News

    Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced a significant expansion of the city’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) mentoring programme, investing £2.3 million to provide dedicated mentoring support in pupil referral units (PRUs) and alternative provision settings across all 32 London boroughs. 

    This initiative, aimed at young people vulnerable to exploitation and violence, will build on the success of previous years, during which the mentoring programme supported more than 1,500 young people in 22 boroughs between September 2022 and July 2024. Evidence from the programme shows that 82% of PRUs reported improved attendance among mentored students, while 86% saw a reduction in behavioural incidents. 

    The new investment will extend support to an additional 2,200 young people aged 11–18 who are excluded or at risk of exclusion from mainstream education. The VRU’s mentoring programme emphasizes re-engagement with education, fostering safer environments and offering critical support to help students stay away from violence and crime. 

    The mentoring programme forms a cornerstone of the Mayor’s strategy to tackle violence and improve outcomes for young Londoners. It complements the London Inclusion Charter, launched in February 2024 to address the challenges of school suspensions, exclusions, and persistent absenteeism. With nearly all boroughs and 20 national charities signed up, the Charter is now implemented in over 500 schools, benefitting 94,000 students. 

    Since the creation of the VRU in 2019, London has witnessed a 23% reduction in homicides and significant decreases in knife and gun crime involving young people. The VRU’s initiatives have offered over 350,000 positive opportunities for youth development, steering young Londoners away from crime and toward meaningful futures. 

    At Orchardside School in Enfield, the Mayor joined VRU director Lib Peck to observe the mentoring programme in action. The visit highlighted the transformational impact mentors have on the lives of young people. 

    Sadiq Khan shared, “I am committed to investing in young people and giving them the opportunity to thrive in our great city. Education plays a vital role in keeping young people safe, and mentors are key to helping them overcome barriers, improve mental health, and embrace opportunities.” 

    Lib Peck echoed the sentiment, emphasizing that education often provides the platform for young people to reconnect with society. She noted, “The role of a trusted mentor in a young person’s life cannot be overstated. The expansion of this programme across London will ensure more young people receive the support they need to succeed.” 

    J Grange was excluded from school and went to a pupil referral unit. He is now a member of the VRU’s Young People’s Action Group. 

    He said: “My school experience was challenging. I faced permanent exclusions from two mainstream schools and often felt misunderstood. However, attending a PRU changed everything for me. The environment there, where teachers truly understood and supported me and allowed me to thrive. 

    “It became a major turning point in my life and set the foundation for my achievements as an internationally recognised public speaker and neurodiversity advocate. It’s also led to incredible opportunities, such as being involved with the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit. 

    “Through my work with the VRU, I’ve visited many PRUs across London, engaging with young people about the transformative power of mentoring. It’s inspiring to see how this initiative is helping young people realise their potential and giving them opportunity to thrive.” 

    Through continued investment in youth initiatives, the Mayor aims to build a safer, more inclusive London. With the expansion of the mentoring programme, the VRU is not only addressing violence but also empowering young people to achieve brighter, violence-free futures. 

    This commitment exemplifies the transformative potential of mentorship and education in shaping the lives of young Londoners. 

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  • UK to sign deals with Turkey, Iraq to halt migrants   

    UK to sign deals with Turkey, Iraq to halt migrants   

    The deals will mirror those signed by Italy with other countries, with money exchanged in return for stopping migrants from setting off…reports Asian Lite News

    The government is set to agree deals with several countries in a bid to prevent thousands of illegal migrants reaching Britain, the Sunday Times reported. 

    The deals will mirror those signed by Italy with other countries, with money exchanged in return for stopping migrants from setting off. 

    Those in discussions with the UK include Turkiye and Vietnam, as well as the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan. Deals are expected to be signed by the year’s end. 

    Italy has managed to reduce the number of people crossing to it by 62 percent after Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni struck deals with Tunisia and Libya. Tunisia received patrol boats and €100 million ($105.4 million) to invest in education, energy and companies employed to halt migration, while Libya’s coast guard will be trained and equipped by Rome. The EU has paid Tunisia an additional €105 million. 

    However, both agreements have been criticized by human rights organizations over the treatment of migrants in Tunisia and Libya by local authorities. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Meloni in September, during which he praised Italy’s “upstream work” in North Africa. 

    “I have always made the argument that preventing people leaving their country in the first place is far better than trying to deal with those that have arrived,” he said. The UK has seen continuous increases in the number of people entering the country illegally, with the Labour government pledging to “smash the gangs” running the trade across the English Channel. 

    By Nov. 11, the total to have made the crossing for 2024 stood at 32,900 people. In 2023, the total number of crossings was 29,437. According to UK government statistics, the top five nationalities for small boat crossings for the year up to June were Afghan at 5,730 (18 percent of the total), Iranian at 3,844 (13 percent), Vietnamese at 3,031 (10 percent), Turkish at 2,925 (10 percent) and Syrian at 2,849 (9 percent). 

    A deal signed by the previous UK government and France gave Paris £500 million ($630.9 million) to stop the crossings. The UK also gives Turkiye significant funds to stop migrants reaching Europe. Last week, Dutch police arrested a Turkish man suspected of being a “major supplier” of small boat equipment in Amsterdam following a joint operation by the UK’s National Crime Agency. 

    The UK government is keen to strike a deal with Iraqi Kurdistan, from which a number of trafficking gangs operate. Earlier this year, high-profile trafficker Barzan Majeed, known as The Scorpion, was arrested in Iraq after being tracked down by the BBC in the city of Sulaymaniyah. 

    Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is known to have sent fact-finders to the region to assess the viability of an Italy-style deal. Any deals are likely to involve funding and training for local security services, as well as potentially including return clauses for migrants who reach the UK. 

    A source told the Sunday Times: “The assessment made after that trip was that Kurdistani nationals monopolise every part of the journey made by small boat migrants from the procuring of the craft to putting people on the boats on the beaches in France.” 

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  • PM promises Ukraine will be ‘top of the agenda’ at G20 

    PM promises Ukraine will be ‘top of the agenda’ at G20 

    Starmer will meet world leaders on Monday at the G20 summit in Brazil…reports Asian Lite News

    Ukraine will be “top of the agenda” this week at a meeting of leaders from the world’s most powerful economies, Keir Starmer has pledged, though he said he had “no plans” to follow the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and speak directly to Vladimir Putin. 

    Starmer will meet world leaders on Monday at the G20 summit in Brazil, which the Russian president has declined to attend, sending his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, in his place. 

    Speaking to reporters en route to the summit, the UK prime minister said it was significant that leaders were gathering almost 1,000 days into Russia’s war and said there had “got to be full support for as long as it takes”, citing the use of North Korean soldiers in the war as a particularly disturbing development. 

    World leaders will gather in Rio de Janeiro for the summit, where there is significant division over the approach to Ukraine and an air of impotency given the imminent return of Donald Trump to the White House. The president-elect has signalled the US will take a different approach to funding Ukraine’s defence. 

    Overnight, Russia fired more than 200 missile and drones across Ukraine, targeting the country’s energy grid, in the biggest attack on Ukraine since August and the first significant Russian assault since the US election. 

    Starmer will attend the summit along with the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, and the outgoing US president, Joe Biden. 

    The UK prime minister said he had “no plans to speak to Putin”, when asked about Scholz’s call. He said: “We are coming up to the 1,000th day of this conflict on Tuesday: that’s 1,000 days of Russian aggression, 1,000 days of huge impact and sacrifice in relation to Ukrainian people, and recently we’ve seen the addition of North Korean troops working with the Russians, which does have serious implications. 

    “I think on the one hand it shows the desperation of Russia but it’s got serious implications for European security, that added additional element, and for Indo-Pacific security – and that’s why I think we need to double-down on shoring up our support for Ukraine and that’s top of my agenda for the G20.” 

    Starmer denied the G20 meeting was futile, with such extreme division between the leaders in attendance, not only on Ukraine but on economic issues, the climate and gender equality. 

    The Argentinian president, Javier Milei, is a close ally of Trump and was the first world leader to visit the president-elect at his Florida residence. He is said to be mounting a number of obstacles to the formal communique. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, visited Milei en route to the summit in an attempt to ease tensions and salvage an agreement from the meeting.  

    “We’re meeting the biggest economies in the world in the next few days and my number-one mission is to grow our economy and to get inward investment into our country,” Starmer said. 

    “So I’m going to use that opportunity at the G20 to do exactly that. And obviously, when it comes to security, there are really important issues right here, right now when it comes to Ukraine that I think are well worth it, and it’s important that we do pursue. And that’s why I’ll be trying to do what I can.” 

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