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Cleverly warns about AI deepfakes trying to rig polls

Facebook owner Meta said it is setting up a team to tackle disinformation and the abuse of AI as concerns about misuse of the technology to manipulate voters loom…reports Asian Lite News

Deepfake videos generated using artificial intelligence could provide the “perfect storm” for the UK’s adversaries to influence the upcoming general election, the home secretary has warned.

James Cleverley said ahead of a planned meeting with tech bosses in Silicon Valley that the era of deepfake videos disrupting elections across the globe was “already in play”.

He warned that adversaries working on behalf of countries like Iran or Russia could flood social media platforms with highly realistic AI-generated deepfake videos in an attempt to sway voters. Roughly half the global population is taking part in elections this year, including in the UK, the US and across the EU.

“The era of deepfake and AI-generated content to mislead and disrupt is already in play,” Cleverley told The Times, adding that “increasingly today the battle of ideas and policies takes place in the ever-changing and expanding digital sphere.”

“The landscape it is inserted into needs its rules, transparency and safeguards for its users. The questions asked about digital content and the sources of digital content are no less relevant than those asked about the content and sources at dispatch boxes, newsrooms, or billboard ads,” he said.

Earlier this month tech giants including Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, and 17 others agreed to work together to prevent deceptive AI content, but this pact did not commit to banning deepfake videos.

London’s mayor Sadiq Khan also warned earlier this month that deepfakes could swing a close UK election. Khan, who was the victim of an AI-generated recording of him supposedly making inflammatory remarks in the run-up to Armistice Day protests last year, said the regulation around the fakes is currently “not fit for purpose.”

“It’s not an issue of policing, it’s an issue of legislation and regulation,” he said.

“My worry is, in a close election, a close referendum, these sorts of deepfake videos and audios can be the difference, but also my concern is, there are sometimes examples where these sorts of deepfake audios can lead to serious disturbances, particularly when emotions are running high,” the London mayor warned.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has said the general election will take place at some point this year, likely in October, but the exact date has not yet been announced. The European Parliament is set to go into elections this year in June.

Ahead of the EU elections, Facebook owner Meta said it is setting up a team to tackle disinformation and the abuse of AI as concerns about misuse of the technology to manipulate voters loom.

“As the election approaches, we’ll activate an Elections Operations Center to identify potential threats and put mitigations in place in real time,” Marco Pancini, Meta’s head of EU affairs, said in a blog post.

Experts from across Meta’s teams, including those working in its intelligence, engineering, content policy, and legal teams will work on combating misinformation and tackling influence operations to tackle the abuse of such AI tools.

The social media giant said it is working with 26 independent fact-checking organisations across the EU covering 22 languages.

ALSO READ-Cleverly underlines commitment to cut net migration

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Cleverly underlines commitment to cut net migration

From 4 April, the increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will come into force…reports Asian Lite News

Measures to transform the UK’s legal migration system, bolster border security and drive down unsustainable and unfair levels of migration will come into force within weeks, the Home Secretary has announced today.

It comes after the Prime Minister and Home Secretary set out a major new package of reforms in December, delivering the biggest ever reduction in net migration and tackling exploitation across the immigration system.

The robust changes, which will curb abuse of the migration system, and ensure those choosing to make the UK their home can afford to do so, will begin to come into effect as early as March and will mean 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to come.

The measures will crack down on rising migration, help curb the abuse of the Health and Care visa route, where we have seen people come to the UK for care worker jobs that do not exist or are paid significantly less than the required salary for a migrant worker on this route, and ensure British labour is not undercut by overseas workers.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said, “I’ve been clear that migration is too high and we must get back to sustainable levels. Last year I set out robust measures to reduce the numbers coming into our country – tightening the rules on care workers, skilled workers, and making sure that people can support their family members that they bring over. It is a firm approach, but a fair one, and gives those affected time to prepare whilst ensuring that migration comes down. The British people want to see action, not words. We are delivering the change we promised and which they expect, lifting pressure on public services and protecting British workers with the utmost urgency.”

Tom Pursglove MP, Minister for Legal Migration and the Border, said, “Our comprehensive plan to tackle net migration will not only bring numbers down substantially, but also tackles the inherent unfairness of a system which, if left untouched, would reward employers seeking to recruit cheap labour from overseas at the expense of the British worker. Delivering change on this scale and at such a pace is hard and challenging work, but we’re making strong headway, with further improvements to modernise and enhance the security of the UK border continuing throughout 2024.”

From 4 April, the increase to the minimum salary required for those arriving on the Skilled Worker visa, from £26,200 to £38,700, will come into force. This 48% rise will drive down numbers, reduce pressure on public services and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers who look to recruit cheap labour from overseas. Workers on a Health and Care visa and on health and education national pay scales will be exempt from this specific threshold.

Meanwhile, the laying of the new Immigration Rules on 14 March will include the removal of the 20% going rate discount for occupations on the Shortage Occupation List, which will be abolished in favour of a new Immigration Salary List from early April. This follows a recommendation from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which will now advise government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially, in time for March. 

ALSO READ-UK Lawmakers Pass Rwanda Bill as Part of Immigration Plan

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Cleverly Targets Foreign Students

Revised ONS figures released last month showed net migration ran at a record figure of 745,000 in the year to Dec 2022…reports Asian Lite News

Home Secretary James Cleverly has said the “unreasonable practice” of international students bringing their family to the UK will end as restrictions on visa routes come into force beginning today.

A near-eightfold rise in the number of family members joining foreign students led the government to announce the ban last year for those not studying “high-value” degrees under government plans.

Further, to prevent misuse of the visa system, foreign students will be stopped from switching from the student visa route into work routes until their studies have been completed.

According to an Evening Standard report, Cleverly said the government is delivering on its commitment to the British public by setting out a “tough plan” to cut migration by tens of thousands and prevent people from manipulating the UK immigration system.

“Today, a major part of that plan comes into effect, ending the unreasonable practice of overseas students bringing their family members to the UK. This will see migration falling rapidly by the tens of thousands and contribute to our overall strategy to prevent 300,000 people from coming to the UK,” he said.

Revised Office for National Statistic (ONS) figures released last month showed net migration ran at a record figure of 745,000 in the year to December 2022.

In the year ending September 2023, 152,980 visas were issued to dependants of students.

As per the 2020-21 data, Indians represent the second largest cohort of international students coming to study at UK universities — with 87,045 first-year enrolments behind China’s 99,965 enrolments.

In 2022, the number of Indian students (excluding dependents) who went to the UK for studies was 1,39,539, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Education experts have expressed concern about the measure, saying international students will go to competitor nations if they are discouraged from coming to the UK.

“I don’t celebrate the new changes…,” Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) think tank, told The Standard.

“International students benefit the UK in all sorts of ways. For example, they are vital to maintaining our world-class university sector as their fees cross-subsidise the teaching of home students and also help to fund UK research.

According to estimates, international students add 35 billion pounds a year to the economy. Foreign students and their dependents contributed to the UK economy not just through fees of 10,000 pounds to 26,000 pounds but also via an NHS surcharge of 400 pounds a year for the student and 600 pounds for a dependent, according to the UK-based New Way Consultancy.

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Asylum backlog target met, says Sunak

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Meanwhile, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he has delivered on his commitment with more than 112,000 asylum cases being processed in the past year and small boat crossing arrivals down by 36 per cent.

In December 2022, Sunak pledged to tackle the remaining legacy asylum backlog — which had more than 92,000 cases of individuals who claimed asylum before 28 June 2022, which were still waiting for an initial decision.

Fundamental changes to the decision-making process and boosting efficiency has resulted in 112,000 asylum decisions this year, and the highest annual number of substantive decisions in a year since 2002, the UK Home Office said in a statement.

“I am determined to end the burden of illegal migration on the British people. That is why we have taken action to stop the boats, return hotels to their local communities, and deter those wanting to come here illegally from doing so,” Sunak said in a statement.

“By clearing the legacy asylum backlog, deciding more than 112,000 cases, we are saving the taxpayer millions of pounds in expensive hotel costs, reducing strain on public services and ensuring the most vulnerable receive the right support,” he added.

The government said it stepped up processing, deploying an additional 1,200 caseworkers, meeting their target to double the number of asylum caseworkers and tripling productivity to ensure more illegal migrants are returned to their country of origin.

All cases in the ‘legacy backlog’ have now been reviewed, with 86,800 decisions made, the Home Office said. In one four-week period from November 20 to December 17, 2023, there were 20,481 initial asylum decisions made, this is more than the number of asylum decisions made in the entirety of 2021.

While all cases have been reviewed and 112,000 decisions made overall, 4,500 complex cases have been highlighted that require additional checks or investigation for a final decision to be made.

According to the Home Office, these “hard cases” typically relate to asylum seekers presenting as children — where age verification is taking place; those with serious medical issues; or those with suspected past convictions, where checks may reveal criminality that would bar asylum.

Ending the ‘legacy’ asylum backlog comes as end-of-year statistics show small boat crossings were down by 36 per cent in 2023. In recent months, crossings have fallen even more sharply — by 45 per cent in the second half of the year and 64 per cent in the final quarter of 2023, against equivalent periods in 2022.

ALSO READ-CABINET REJIG: Cameron Makes Surprise Return as Cleverly Replaces Braverman

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UK Signs New Rwanda Treaty to Revive Asylum Plan

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Treaty is a crucial step forward in UK’s commitment to stopping the boats and saving lives…reports Asian Lite News

UK Home Secretary James Cleverly has signed a joint treaty with Rwandan Foreign Minister, Dr Vincent Biruta, strengthening the UK and Rwanda’s Migration and Economic Development Partnership and directly addressing the concerns of the Supreme Court.

The agreement is part of the government’s plan to ensure that illegal migrants can be lawfully relocated to Rwanda under the government’s ambition to stop the boats – ensuring that people know that if they come to the UK illegally, they cannot stay here, UK Home Office stated.

Following further positive discussions between the two countries after the Supreme Court judgment, and building on months of work between the two countries, the Treaty responds directly to the conclusions of the Supreme Court and presents a new long-term solution, according to Home Office.

“This is a crucial step forward in our commitment to stopping the boats and saving lives,” Cleverly said. “Rwanda is a safe country that cares deeply about supporting refugees. It has a strong history of providing protection to those that need it, hosting over 135,000 asylum seekers who have found sanctuary there. I am grateful to our Rwandan partners for their willingness, dedication and commitment to strengthening this Partnership further.”

He added: “The Supreme Court recognised that changes may be delivered which would address their conclusions – this Treaty responds directly to that. We remain steadfast in doing everything we can to stop to illegal migration, and our wider, ongoing work operationally and internationally has led to crossings coming down by a third compared to last year.”

The landmark Treaty is binding in international law and ensures that people relocated to Rwanda under the Partnership are not at risk of being returned to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened – an act known as refoulement.   

It also enhances the functions of the independent Monitoring Committee to ensure compliance with the obligations in the Treaty, such as reception conditions, processing of asylum claims, and treatment and support for individuals including up to 5 years after they have received final determination of their status. The Committee is made up of 8 independent members.

The Monitoring Committee will also develop a system which will enable relocated individuals and legal representatives to lodge confidential complaints directly to them. It will have the power to set its own priority areas for monitoring, and have unfettered access for the purposes of completing assessments and reports. It may publish reports as it sees fit on its findings.

To further bolster assurances that relocated individuals will not be returned, under the Treaty, Rwanda’s asylum system will be strengthened through a new Appeal Body. The Appeal Body will consist of a Rwandan and other Commonwealth national Co-President, and be composed of judges from a mixture of nationalities with asylum and humanitarian protection expertise (appointed by the Co-Presidents) to hear individual appeals.

“This partnership with the UK reflects Rwanda’s commitment to protecting vulnerable people, and builds on our track record of welcoming and hosting refugees and migrants from around the world,” said Dr Biruta. “Rwanda and the UK both understand that there’s a critical need to find innovative solutions to address the suffering of migrants making dangerous, desperate journeys, under the exploitation of criminal human smugglers.”

He added: “The people relocated to Rwanda will be welcomed, and they will be provided with both the safety and support they need to build new lives.”

The Treaty also charts a rights-based path for similar collaboration with and between other countries. Countries across Europe are now also exploring third country models for illegal immigration – including Austria, Germany, Denmark and Italy in their deal with Albania, a new and innovative model for processing asylum claims.  

The agreement goes hand-in-hand with wider action to stop the boats, including under the Illegal Migration Act – the most robust our country has ever seen – and our agreements with countries including France, Albania, Turkey and Italy.  

It also comes ahead of new legislation announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which will enable Parliament to confirm that, with our new Treaty, Rwanda is safe.  

As part of the Home Secretary’s first official visit to Rwanda, he also attended the Kigali Genocide Memorial with Minister Biruta to pay his respects and met with President Kagame and Minister Biruta to further discuss joint working.

ALSO READ-SC Unanimously Rejects UK’s Rwanda Migration Plan

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Cleverly to travel to Middle East, including Egypt

Cleverly visited Israel last week following attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas. He did not set out details of the itinerary of his latest trip…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign minister James Cleverly told parliament he would travel to the Middle East on Wednesday, outlining a diplomatic push which a British source said would include a visit to Egypt and possibly Qatar and Turkiye.

Britain has called for “cool heads” following a blast at a hospital in Gaza that killed huge numbers of Palestinians and repeatedly said the Israel-Hamas conflict must not escalate to the wider region.

“I have traveled to Israel, I’ve engaged with G7 allies, regional partners, and will be visiting the region again later on today, because we recognize that this will require intensive efforts,” he told parliament.

Cleverly visited Israel last week following attacks by Palestinian militant group Hamas. He did not set out details of the itinerary of his latest trip.

In Egypt, he is expected to discuss the opening of a border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to allow humanitarian aid in and citizens to leave, the source said.

Earlier, condemning the attack on Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza which claimed the lives of hundreds of people Cleverly suggested that the international community should wait for the facts to come out before jumping to conclusions as it can put even more lives to risk.

He further said that getting the wrong information would put even more lives at risk.

Taking on his social media ‘X’, Cleverly stated, “Last night, too many jumped to conclusions around the tragic loss of life at Al Ahli hospital. Getting this wrong would put even more lives at risk. Wait for the facts, and report them clearly and accurately. Cool heads must prevail.”

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Tal Heinrich, a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, told CNN that the IDF “does not target hospitals. We only target Hamas strongholds, arms depots, and terror targets.”

Heinrich made the remarks after Palestinian sources claimed that initial estimates suggest that the attack on the Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City resulted in 200 to 300 fatalities.

However, a Gaza civil defence chief claimed on Al-Jazeera television that over 300 people were killed in the explosion at the Gaza hospital.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Force spokesperson of Israel Defence Forces (IDF), RAdm. Daniel Hagari released an audio that claimed to be a conversation between two terrorists who admitted that the rocket fired on the Hospital belonged to their group. (ANI)

ALSO READ-‘UK Stands With Israel’

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In touch with Canada over row with India, says Cleverly

The UK Foreign Secretary stressed further that it was important that Canada’s investigation into allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of the pro-Khalistan leader runs its course…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on Tuesday said his government was in regular contact with its Canadian partners over allegations raised in the Canadian Parliament about India’s alleged role in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Cleverly added that all countries should respect sovereignty.

Taking on his official handle social media platform ‘X’, Cleverly posted, “All countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law. We are in regular contact with our Canadian partners about serious allegations raised in the Canadian Parliament.”

The UK Foreign Secretary stressed further that it was important that Canada’s investigation into allegations of Indian involvement in the killing of the pro-Khalistan leader runs its course. 

“Important that Canada’s investigation runs its course and the perpetrators brought to justice,” the statement quoting him added.

Earlier, on Tuesday, India rejected the allegations by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India was behind the fatal shooting of Khalistan Tiger Force chief and a wanted terrorist in India, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in Canada.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) termed the allegations ‘absurd ‘and ‘motivated’.

“We have seen and rejected the statement of the Canadian Prime Minister in their Parliament, as also the statement by their Foreign Minister,” the MEA said in an official statement.“

Allegations of the Indian government’s “involvement in any act of violence in Canada are absurd and motivated”, the MEA release added.

The Indian response came a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed an Indian hand in the fatal shooting of the Khalistan Tiger Force chief in Canada.

Nijjar, who was wanted in India, was gunned down outside a Gurdwara, in a parking area in Canada’s Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.

Speaking during a debate in the Canadian Parliament, PM Trudeau on Monday claimed his country’s national security officials had reasons to believe that “agents of the Indian government” carried out the killing of the Canadian citizen, who also served as the president of Surrey’s Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara.

“Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar,” Trudeau said.

He stated that the involvement of a foreign hand or government in the killing of a Canadian citizen in Canada was unacceptable. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Canada Harbours Terrorists and Extremists

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‘Disengaging with China not credible’

After meeting China’s vice president, Cleverly said the trip, the first by such a senior UK figure in five years, would help avoid “mistrust and errors”…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has defended talks with Chinese officials in Beijing, telling the BBC it would not be “credible” to disengage.

After meeting China’s vice president, Cleverly said the trip, the first by such a senior UK figure in five years, would help avoid “mistrust and errors”.

But ahead of his visit, some UK MPs attacked the government’s approach to China as “incoherent”. In recent years, UK-China relations have deteriorated.

China is still the UK’s fourth largest trading partner, but concerns over threats to civil liberties in the former British colony of Hong Kong, espionage by China in the UK, and China’s support of Russia during the invasion of Ukraine have led to tensions between the two countries.

Cleverly said his visit was an opportunity to speak “directly and unambiguously” on areas of disagreement and “work together where it is in our mutual interest to do so”.

He said it would allow the UK to “re-establish lines of communication” and added that a lack of face-to-face engagement could lead to “more opportunities for perhaps misinterpretations, mistrust and errors”.

“I’m realistic that one phone call, one visit, one meeting isn’t going to fundamentally change the direction of travel,” he said, but added that “patient, consistent and reliable communication could have an effect”.

“That is why I bring up issues around human rights, Xinjiang, Hong Kong and indeed individual cases every time I have meetings with representatives of the Chinese government.”

Asked about China’s support for Russia in Ukraine, Cleverly said the country had an interest in bringing the war to “a fair and successful conclusion”. “I don’t think it is in China’s interest for there to be a perception they are supporting actively or even passively Putin’s actions.”

Cleverly said the UK wanted to maintain an economic relationship with China, but added: “National security comes first and if there is ever a situation where our security concerns are at odd with our economic concerns, our security concerns win out.”

On Wednesday, Cleverly met China’s Vice President Han Zheng at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and held talks with China’s Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi.

The Foreign Office said during the meetings he raised the case of Jimmy Lai, expressed concern about the treatment of the Uyghur people and urged China to lift sanctions on British MPs.

In recent months both the US’s Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken have visited China in efforts to restart communications between the superpowers.

Since the beginning of the year, China has also received visits from leaders of the EU, France, Germany and Spain.

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said that China is on a “charm offensive” after backtracking on “a very aggressive approach to foreign affairs” nicknamed wolf warrior diplomacy.

The UK-China relationship has changed dramatically since 2015, when David Cameron’s government hailed a “golden era”.

At the time, then-Chancellor George Osborne said the UK had “cemented its position as China’s best partner in West” and Cameron took Chinese President Xi Jinping for a pint in his local pub.

However, since then, the UK government has criticised China for its treatment of Uyghur Muslims living in the country and in 2021 it banned the Chinese company Huawei from UK’s 5G infrastructure citing security concerns.

In the same year, China banned five MPs – including former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith – accusing them of spreading “lies and disinformation”.

As prime minister, Liz Truss was reportedly planning to re-categorise China as a “threat” to the UK.

Rishi Sunak has resisted calls to go that far but in 2022 he said that the “golden era” of relations with China was over and said attempts to build closer ties had been “naïve”.

At its heart the UK’s recent policy towards China has been based on a changing perception of the balance between the UK’s economic interests and its security concerns.

At times the UK has sought business opportunities in China and Chinese investment in the UK, welcoming Chinese participation in even sensitive sectors such as civil nuclear power stations.

But ties have been strained as China has taken an increasingly authoritarian turn under Xi Jinping’s leadership. The move now, under Sunak’s premiership towards new engagement, may be driven by a pragmatic, business-led policy, but it has come under criticism from some prominent MPs in the Conservative Party who have warned the UK should be moving to reduce the risks associated with allowing China influence in parts of the UK economy.

Speaking in London, Sunak declined to say whether he would have talks with President Xi at the G20 summit in Delhi next month, but said it was “sensible” to discuss areas where there was “common ground” such as climate change, global health and economic stability.

Cleverly’s visit comes as the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee criticised the government’s approach to China in a new report on UK policy in the Indo-Pacific. The report describes the activities of the Chinese Communist Party as “a threat to the UK and its interests”.

It raises concerns that the government’s strategy on China is classified and therefore not available to senior ministers – it says this has led to incoherence and calls for an unclassified version of its China strategy to be published to provide guidance to the public and private sectors.

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Cleverly condemns Russia’s Black Sea grain initiative withdrawal

According to Cleverly, Ukraine’s exports of grain have been restricted while Russia’s exports of food are at higher levels than before the conflict between the two nations started…reports Asian Lite News

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly expressed his disapproval of Russia’s decision to withdraw from the United Nations and the Black Sea grain deal brokered by Turkey. Cleverly urged Moscow to reconsider its stance and participate in the initiative once again, while also urging them to permit the export of grain.

Cleverly stressed that Russia’s war against Ukraine has hindered the free flow of grain and other foodstuffs through the Black Sea resulting in a worldwide food crisis. He stated that the Black Sea Grain initiative since its inception has played a significant role in lowering and establishing global food prices and delivered more than 32 million tonnes of food products to world markets. “The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms Russia’s decision to withdraw from the Black Sea Grain Initiative,” James Cleverly said in the press release.

“Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine has obstructed the free flow of grain and other foodstuffs through the Black Sea, causing worldwide suffering. We urge Russia to re-join the initiative, which was developed by the UN in 2022, and allow the unimpeded export of grain,” he added.

James Cleverly stated that Russia has obstructed the proper operation of the deal for several months. He noted that Russia by its action is serving its own interests and disregards the needs of all those around the world, including the poor nations, who are paying high prices.

According to him, the United Nations has estimated that, without the export of grain under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the global number of undernourished individuals could potentially rise by millions.

According to Cleverly, Ukraine’s exports of grain have been restricted while Russia’s exports of food are at higher levels than before the conflict between the two nations started.

“We have always been clear that the target of our sanctions is Russia’s war machine and not the food and fertiliser sectors,” James Cleverly said in the press release.

“Contrary to Russian claims, the UN and other partners have taken significant steps to ensure that Russian food is able to access world markets. The best way for Russia to address concerns around global food security would be for it to withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end the war,” he added.

On Monday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced Moscow will not renew the agreement, saying it “has been terminated.” The deal had allowed Ukraine to export grain by sea, as per the CNN report.

In withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that its government was removing guarantees for safe navigation in the Black Sea, according to CNN. (ANI)

ALSO READ-Cleverly to focus on AI and Russia during UN presidency

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Cleverly to focus on AI and Russia during UN presidency

Over 19,000 children have been forcibly relocated to re-education camps in an attempt to erase their cultural and national identity…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly began a visit to the UN in New York, coinciding with the UK’s presidency of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for the month of July.

Cleverly will lead a UN Security Council session on the war in Ukraine, prior to which he is expected to announce further UK action to hold the Russian government to account for its calculated deportation of Ukrainian children. Over 19,000 children have been forcibly relocated to re-education camps in an attempt to erase their cultural and national identity.

He will also attend the UN High-Level Political Forum to deliver the UK national statement on sustainable development with Member States, civil society organisations and private sector firms, showing the UK’s leadership in bringing the international community together to promote future global security, stability, and prosperity, which in turn will benefit the UK economy – supporting the Prime Minister’s priority to grow the economy.

He will also chair an event, co-hosted with Jamaica, where he will emphasise the need for more investment in climate resilient infrastructure and innovative climate solutions for developing countries.

On Tuesday, he will chair the first session on AI in the history of the UN Security Council and call for international dialogue on its risks and opportunities for international peace and security, ahead of the UK hosting the first ever global summit on AI later this year. Ranking third globally across several metrics, the UK is a world leader in AI and well-placed to convene these discussions. It also stands to gain from growth in the AI sector, which already contributes an estimated £3.7 billion in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy and employs over 50,000 people.

The Foreign Secretary will then travel to Colorado to address the Aspen Security Forum on Wednesday, where he will reaffirm UK and allied support for Ukraine.

ALSO READ-Cleverly talks tough on Indian High Commission attack

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Cleverly talks tough on Indian High Commission attack

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis also responded to Cleverly’s tweet and said the UK government attaches importance to the safety of friends and colleagues…reports Asian Lite News

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Thursday said that any direct attacks on Indian High Commission in London are “completely unacceptable.”

He said the UK has made clear to the High Commissioner of India to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami and the Indian government that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount. “Any direct attacks on the Indian High Commission in London are completely unacceptable. We have made clear to @VDoraiswami and the Government of India that the safety of staff at the High Commission is paramount,” Cleverly said in a tweet.

Cleverly’s remarks come after posters emerged of a pro-Khalistan rally in London on July 8.

The rally is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. The posters contained threats to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami and Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham.

British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis also responded to Cleverly’s tweet and said the UK government attaches importance to the safety of friends and colleagues.

“To amplify the importance which @FCDOGovUK attaches to the safety and security of friends and colleagues, and their premises, at @HCI_London,” he said in a tweet.

Posters containing threats to Indian diplomats are being circulated in Canada also. The posters purportedly circulated by Sikh extremists have named Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma and the Consulate General of India, Toronto, Apoorva Srivastava.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday told reporters on the sidelines of a programme in Delhi that India has requested partner countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia not to give space to Khalistanis as these radical extremist ideologies are not good for the bilateral relationship.

‘India to judge UK by what happens on ground’

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that India has raised the issue of threats to Indian diplomats in London, but it will judge the UK authorities only by what actually happens on the ground.

This pertains to the threats that emerged after posters emerged of a pro-Khalistan rally in London on July 8. Addressing a briefing here on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “There is a rally on July 8. This violence against our diplomats and inside our diplomatic premises abroad is unacceptable, and we condemn them in the strongest terms”.

He later added in the briefing about the rally, “If there are attacks and threats against our diplomats, which is actually there on those posters, we are taking them very seriously and we would expect to see action by those authorities”.

Bagchi further said that India will judge the UK authorities only by “what happens on the ground”.

“We have seen comments by UK Foreign Secretary, as you are aware, we have had problems with the security of our mission in London. We have taken up the issue of this threat against our diplomats with the UK authorities. We have noted these comments by the UK authorities but we will naturally judge them by what happens on the ground. In the name of freedom of expression, we should not be giving space to those who advocate violence, propagate separatism or legitimise terrorism,” Bagchi said.

The rally is being held in the name of Harjit Singh Nijjar aka Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist who was killed in a targeted shooting in Canada’s Surrey on June 18. The posters contained threats to the Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami and Shashank Vikram, Consul General of India, Birmingham.

Speaking ahead during the briefing about the recent arson attempt at the Indian consulate in San Francisco, the MEA spokesperson said that the matter has been taken up with the US authorities and the Indian authority in touch with US authorities regarding what can be done to ensure the security of the diplomats.

“We have noted posters circulated in other countries, the US particularly. There was an arson attempt by some extremist elements in the Indian consulate in San Francisco. It was quickly brought down by the authorities. We again condemn attacks on our diplomatic premises abroad. We have taken the matter with the US side, and the US authority has responded promptly at very senior levels. The safety and security of our diplomats is at utmost priority for the government,” Bagchi said. (ANI)

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