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UK govt to announce US gas deal after climate summit  

Earlier this year, the United States agreed to supply 15 billion cubic metres of LNG to the European Union to help it cope with the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine…reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is poised to announce a major natural gas deal with the United States after the COP27 climate change summit, the Telegraph newspaper reported on Monday.

Britain hopes the United States will promise about 10 billion cubic metres of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the coming year, the report said, adding that discussions about the deal are in their final stages and an announcement could come in a week or two.

But it also said that wrangling over the exact amount continues and it was possible that a specific figure would not be given when the deal is publicised. It was also unclear how much of the gas – which will be sold by U.S. companies – will be in the UK energy system this winter, the Telegraph said.

Earlier this year, the United States agreed to supply 15 billion cubic metres of LNG to the European Union to help it cope with the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Britain’s National Grid has said that Britain’s ability to secure gas supply would depend upon its prices being high enough to attract exports from Europe and LNG from countries such as Qatar and the United States.

U.S. LNG producers’ ability to supply more fuel will rise only modestly until 2025, when three new plants become fully operational, according to U.S. government estimates. The plants will add 5.7 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) to the about 11.75 bcfd of exports expected this quarter.

Wholesale gas prices have soared in recent months as economies reopen from COVID-19 lockdowns while high demand for LNG in Asia has resulted in less supply to Europe.

Around 12 British energy suppliers have collapsed this year, affecting more than 2 million customers.

ALSO READ-Iran inks gas deals worth $6.5bn with Russia

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Sunak makes dramatic exit at COP27: Report

The Downing Street has made no statement on the incident…reports Asian Lite News

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was allegedly rushed out of a stage at the ongoing UN COP27 climate summit in Egypt’s coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh, the media reported.

A video of the incident on Monday was captured by Leo Hickman, the director/editor of UK climate change website, Carbon Brief, reports the London World news outlet.

Hickman shared the video on Twitter in which he mentioned that “UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has just arrived at launch of the Forests and Climate Leaders’ Partnership at COP27”.

According to London World, Sunak “was on stage with other world leaders for a climate change event when his aides interrupted him”.

There was however, no information on what the aides conveyed to thee Prime Minister.

Even the Downing Street has made no statement on the incident.

In a keynote address to the summit on Monday, Sunak said that “climate security goes hand in hand with energy security” and that the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising energy prices are reasons to act faster to tackle climate change.

This was his first appearance in an international arena since he took office last month.

Leaders from 120 countries are meeting in Sharm El-Sheikh to discuss next steps in curbing climate change.

Key topics are compensation and support for the most-affected countries.

ALSO READ: Sunak, Macron meet on sidelines of COP27, hold climate talks

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UK court approves fugitive Sanjay Bhandari’s extradition

Mallya’s extradition was cleared by the UK high court in April 2020 but has since been held up because he has applied for asylum…reports Asian Lite News

In a third such high-profile extradition win for India in UK – after Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi –  a London court has ordered the extradition of fugitive arms dealer Sanjay Bhandari to India, media reported.

“As I am satisfied that extradition is compatible with the defendant’s Convention rights, I must send this case to the Secretary of State [Suella Braverman] for a decision as to whether the defendant is to be extradited,” district judge Michael Snow at the Westminster’s Magistrates’ Court in London said, while ordering Bhandari’s extradition and sending the reference to the home secretary.

“However, I only do so on the basis of the assurances that have been provided by the (Indian) government,” the judge said. The Indian government assured the court that Bhandari will be held in a separate cell at Tihar Jail in New Delhi with adequate access to health care while he faces trial in India, the Hindustan Times reported.

However, Bhandari has the option to challenge this decision in the UK high court, which will pave the way for long delay in the extradition like in the case of Mallya and Modi.

Mallya’s extradition was cleared by the UK high court in April 2020 but has since been held up because he has applied for asylum. A Westminster court ordered Modi’s extradition in February 2021, which he has challenged in the UK high court.

During the proceedings against Bhandari, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) of the UK, which has successfully argued India’s cases, stated that the businessman’s conduct amounts to “fraud by false representation” in British jurisdiction. The charges were described by Bhandari’s legal team as “political witch-hunt” and “baseless”.

Bhandari, 60, is under investigation by multiple agencies , including the Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Income Tax department and Delhi Police for money laundering , violation of the foreign exchange act , the black money act, and the official secrets act for having access to sensitive defence documents, the HT reported.

Bhandari fled to the UK via Nepal in December 2016.

ALSO READ: Chinese envoy pitches for resumption of flights between India, China  

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Sunak, Macron meet on sidelines of COP27, hold climate talks

The meeting on Monday was the first between the two leaders since Sunak took office as UK PM…reports Asian Lite News

On the sidelines of the ongoing UN COP27 summit in Egypt, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on the importance of continuing to drive climate action forward.

The meeting on Monday was the first between the two leaders since Sunak took office last month.

According to a statement from the Downing Street, Sunak and Macron also noted opportunities for the UK and France to collaborate further on the transition to clean energy, including on civil nuclear power.

They also spoke about “the ongoing challenge of illegal migration, stressing the urgency of cracking down on criminal smuggling gangs and committed to continue working together with partners to address the issues in the Channel”, the statement said.

The topics of discussion were the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine and the continued importance of maintaining military and economic support for the defence of Kiev.

France,UK flag.(photo:pixabay.com)

In a tweet after the meeting, the Prime Minister said: “Friends, Partners, Allies… Great to meet with Emmanuel Macron…”

The meeting comes after the the two countries had earlier clashed over several issues, including migrant boat crossings in the Channel; a military pact between Britain, the US and Australia; and Brexit measures involving Northern Ireland.

Controversy also erupted when former Prime Minister Liz Truss, while campaigning for he Conservative leadership race, had said that “jury was still out” on the French President, adding that she would be judging him on “deeds not words”.

ALSO READ: COP27: UN unveils mega plan to achieve early warning systems

ALSO READ: COP 27 begins in Egypt

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Hunt plans £10 billion tax rule changes

Increasing the number of very high earners whose income relief is cut further is another option being considered, the report said…reports Asian Lite News

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering changing income tax rules which are designed to encourage workers to save into their pension pots, the Telegraph reported.

Talks are underway to reduce the rate at which income tax relief is applied to Britain’s higher-rate taxpayers from 40 pence to as low as 20 pence, according to the Telegraph. Increasing the number of very high earners whose income relief is cut further is another option being considered, the report said.

The total cost of pension tax relief to the Exchequer is £42.7 billion, of which £22.9 billion is relief on income tax. A flat rate of 20% would raise between £8 billion to £10 billion a year, according to a report by the Pension and Lifetime Savings Association.

It marks the resurrection of a plan first pitched by former chancellor George Osborne in 2016, which was abandoned by the Conservative Party. The Telegraph last week reported that Osborne had been approached by Hunt for advice on how to handle Britain’s economy.

ALSO READ-Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike in UK

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Nurses set to hold biggest-ever strike in UK

The exact nature of the strikes is yet to be determined, but it will likely see patients facing disruption to operations and appointments amid record NHS waiting lists…reports Asian Lite News

Counting is under way in the ballot of more than 300,000 Royal College of Nursing (RCN) members – but it’s believed enough nurses have voted for a winter walkout.

The industrial action is set to take place within a few weeks, possibly before Christmas, as the RCN demands a pay rise of 5% above inflation.

General secretary Pat Cullen said: ‘Our strike action will be as much for patients as it is for nurses – we have their support in doing this.’

The exact nature of the strikes is yet to be determined, but it will likely see patients facing disruption to operations and appointments amid record NHS waiting lists.

‘This will see the majority of services taken out, and picket lines across the country,’ a union source said.

It comes as Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt face the huge challenge of tackling a £50 billion hole in public finances.

In a statement, Cullen said: ‘Patients are at great risk when there aren’t enough nurses.

‘Huge numbers of staff – both experienced and newer recruits – are deciding they cannot see a future in a nursing profession that is not valued nor treated fairly.’

She added: ‘As we begin action, politicians in every part of the UK will be challenged to back their nursing staff and understand the strength of public support.’

The RCN said there are record nursing vacancies and in the last year 25,000 nursing staff around the UK left the Nursing and Midwifery Council register.

It said recent analysis showed an experienced nurse’s salary has fallen by 20% in real terms since 2010, adding the goodwill of nursing staff is being ‘exploited’ by UK governments.

During the ballot, the RCN had argued this year’s below-inflation pay award came after years of squeezes on nurse’s salaries.

Research commissioned by the union has found average pay fell by 6% between 2011 and 2021 – once inflation was taken into account – compared with a 4.6% drop for the whole economy.

Starting salaries for nurses in England are currently just above £27,000, rising to nearly £55,000 for the most senior nurses.

The RCN said the average pay for a full-time established nurse was just above £32,000 last year – similar to average pay across the economy.

But the government has argued it has met the recommendations of the independent NHS Pay Review Body in giving its award.

And it followed a 3% pay rise last year, in recognition of work during the pandemic, despite a public-sector pay freeze.

This is the first time the RCN has balloted all its members for strike action in its 106-year history.

In 2019, RCN members went on strike in Northern Ireland over pay, while nurses who are members of Unison in England walked out in 2014 over pay.

A host of other major health unions, including Unison, the Royal College of Midwives, GMB and Unite, have all started to, or are planning to, ballot members.

ALSO READ-Indian nurse number strength boosts workforce

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Japan to sign military pact with Britain

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart agreed the UK and Japan were incredibly important allies, who played a vital role in ensuring global stability and prosperity…reports Asian Lite News

Britain plans to sign a new defence agreement with Japan next month, which will enable the two countries to further ties with the US in the Indo-Pacific region, The Financial Times reports citing sources.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) will also aim to enhance deterrence against China and will make joint exercises easier, people familiar with the talks told the London-based newspaper on Saturday.

Japan is also in the “initial stages” of considering a similar agreement with the Philippines, The Financial Times said. This report comes in the wake of a recent phone call between the two prime ministers on November 4.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart agreed the UK and Japan were incredibly important allies, who played a vital role in ensuring global stability and prosperity.

“Reiterating the importance of ensuring a free and independent Indo-Pacific, the Prime Minister said that the UK was aligned with Japan on the challenges in the region,” Downing Street said in a statement.

Notably, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced last month that Australia and Japan had agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of defense and security by signing a Joint Declaration on Security Cooperation.

Kyodo news reported that any breakthrough with the UK would follow a similar deal Japan signed with Australia in January. That agreement was the first such pact for Tokyo, outside of its alliance with the United States, the report added.

ALSO READ-South Korea’s Navy to participate in Japan’s fleet review

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Sunak announces bank holiday for coronation of King

Prince Charles,73, automatically became the King of the UK after his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s demise on September 8…reports Asian Lite News

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a bank holiday on Monday (May 8) after the coronation of King Charles III on May 6.

“The Coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom next year,” Prime Minister Sunak said.

“I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour,” a statement by the UK PMO quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

Prince Charles,73, automatically became the King of the UK after his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s demise on September 8.

ALSO READ-‘Family excited about Downing Street home’

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‘Family excited about Downing Street home’

The first British Indian incumbent at the famous address also shared the moment he heard about his predecessor Liz Truss’ hastened exit following a disastrous mini-budget…reports Asian Lite News

Rishi Sunak on Saturday gave an insight into how his Indian wife Akshata Murty and daughters Krishna and Anoushka are settling into life at 10 Downing Street just over a week after he took charge as the British Prime Minister.

The Indian-origin former chancellor has overturned the norm by moving back into the smaller flat above 10 Downing Street, which is usually used as the home of the Chancellor of Exchequer.

In an interview with ‘The Times’, he revealed that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will be using the larger flat above No. 11 Downing Street as he would appreciate the extra space with three children and also that his daughters loved their old home on the famous street when he was the finance minister.

“We thought it would be nice for him [Hunt] to have that bit of extra space so I thought that was the right thing to do,” Sunak told the newspaper.

“But also, that was our home for two and a half years. It’s nice for us to come back to where we used to be, the kids know it, the kids love it. It was the home Nova [Sunak family labrador] first came to when we picked her up as a family,” he said.

“Everyone’s really excited about it. I met Jeremy’s kids last week. My girls are excited because they know that they’ve got a labrador like us. There’s a lot of kids, a lot of dogs,” he said.

The first British Indian incumbent at the famous address also shared the moment he heard about his predecessor Liz Truss’ hastened exit following a disastrous mini-budget.

He was out having a meal with his daughters at TGI Friday’s in Teesside in northern England when the announcement came and he decided to take the plunge after a call with his wife Akshata.

“I did need to talk to her about it. In one sense I had moved on, I was thinking about what was next for me. I was getting stuck into that,” Sunak told the newspaper.

“I believe very strongly in public service. That’s why I wanted to do the job over the summer. I thought I was the best person to lead our country through what we all acknowledge are going to be some challenging times. Given what happened [with Truss’s premiership], I felt the same,” he said.

At 42, Sunak is the youngest British Prime Minister in 200 years and feels a sense of pride being the first Hindu in the highest office of state – with a Ganesha statue adorning his desk.

“As chancellor I was able to light my Diwali diyas on the steps of Downing Street. It said something wonderful about our country that that was possible, but also that it wasn’t a big deal. It was in a sense gosh, this is great, but also that’s just Britain. That’s what you would expect from Britain. Hopefully it’s a source of collective pride across the country,” he reflected.

With one of the most daunting in-trays of any new Prime Minister facing him given the soaring inflation and a turbulent economy, Sunak struck a note of caution that the government would not be able to fix every problem even as he pledged to restore trust in the governing party.

“I completely acknowledge that trust has been damaged over the past few weeks and months. I realise that trust is not given, trust is earned. My job is to regain people’s trust. That’s what I’m going to set about doing,” he said.

“You have to make sure that as you’re doing things, you’re doing it in a way that’s fair and being honest with people that, of course, no government can fix every problem,” he added.

ALSO READ-Sunak speaks of pride at being first Hindu PM

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Sunak speaks of pride at being first Hindu PM

Sunak’s grandparents hailed from Punjab and emigrated to Britain from eastern Africa in the 1960s…reports Asian Lite News

Britain’s first Indian-origin Prime Minister, who is also an observant Hindu, believes the landmark says something important about the state of diversity in Britain, according to an interview published on Saturday.

The 42-year-old Sunak also revealed that he refused to step aside for ex-PM Boris Johnson in last month’s leadership battle, convinced his track record as Finance Minister meant he was the right person to lead the country through its cost-of-living crisis.

Sunak won the race to replace Liz Truss as premier and leader of the Conservative Party on October 24, the same day India celebrated Diwali, the festival of lights.

The new premier’s first formal event in Downing Street was a Diwali reception.

“It was obviously marvellous. It meant a lot of things to a lot of people,” said Sunak, who as Johnson’s finance minister would lay out traditional Diwali decorations on the doorstep of his official residence at 11 Downing Street.

Sunak’s grandparents hailed from Punjab and emigrated to Britain from eastern Africa in the 1960s.

“As chancellor I was able to light my Diwali diyas (lamps) on the steps of Downing Street. It said something wonderful about our country that that was possible, but also that it wasn’t a big deal.

“It was in a sense gosh, this is great, but also that’s just Britain,” he told The Times newspaper in his first major interview since taking office.

“Hopefully it’s a source of collective pride across the country,” he added.

Sunak said he never considered dropping out of the leadership contest to make way for Johnson or a “joint ticket” with his former boss.

Johnson had mulled a comeback attempt but aborted the bid after he failed to persuade Sunak to share power.

“I was very clear with him about the fact I had strong support from colleagues in parliament and I thought I was the best person to do the job,” he said.

Sunak avoided direct criticism of his short-lived predecessor Truss, whose disastrous economic policies he has described as “mistakes” it is his job to “fix”.

Truss’s botched tax-cutting October budget rocked markets, spiked borrowing costs and tanked the pound.

With Britons facing a winter of rising food, energy and housing costs, Sunak has attempted to bring calm to markets by hinting at tax rises in a fresh budget on November 17.

But he warned of “difficult decisions to come”, while pledging measures aimed at bringing down inflation “compassionately and with fairness”.

ALSO READ-Sunak committed to FTA with India