<p>British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is in the midst of a four-country trip to the Caribbean and South America and has recently come under fire for his choice of aircraft. At a time when the economy in the United Kingdom is not faring well and the country is facing a cost of living crisis, the minister chose to travel in luxury with the Embraer Lineage 1000E, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Best luxury jet money can buy’: Embraer Lineage 1000E</strong></h2>

<p>According to the media report, the jet costs more than 10,000 pounds (over $12,000) an hour to hire and includes several amenities like a lounge area with big-screen TV, a master suite complete with a queen-size bed, a private bathroom and a shower. The Embraer Lineage 1000E has been described as “one of the best luxury private jets money can buy” by Business Insider.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The aircraft from the German aviation company has also featured in the fleet of corporate jets and is a go-to private jet used by the billionaire Roy family in the hit TV show Succession. As per media reports, the ten-day trip that the British foreign secretary is on would cost the UK taxpayers about 348,000 pounds (approximately $431,078).&nbsp;</p>

<p>As of Monday, with a flying time of nearly 19 hours since Cleverly visited Jamaica, Colombia, and Chile, the private jet has already cost the taxpayers&nbsp;around 228,000 pounds (approx $282,520), reported The Mirror.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>‘Ludicrous extravagance’: Opposition Labour Party on use of private jet</strong></h2>

<p>The opposition Labour Party has called the hire of Embraer Lineage 1000E&nbsp;a “ludicrous extravagance” and accused the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government of being out of touch with the public, as per The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry acknowledged that while travelling overseas is an essential part of the foreign secretary’s role, it does not justify his use of a luxury jet when British families are running out of ways to make ends meet.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“At a time when British families are running out of ways to make ends meet – James Cleverly thought it was appropriate to conduct this tour in the kind of luxury jet used by billionaires and pop stars, with British taxpayers footing the bill,” said Thornberry, as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, “This sort of ludicrous extravagance at the public expense just shows how out of touch Rishi Sunak’s government are. No wonder their response to the cost of living crisis has been so utterly hopeless when they have such little concept of what ordinary life is like for people in our country.”</p>

<p>According to the media report, between the beginning of 2021 and the end of last year, foreign secretaries -&nbsp;Dominic Raab,&nbsp;Liz Truss and Cleverly -&nbsp;have hired private jets or used one of the government’s fleets of ministerial planes to travel overseas on 31 separate occasions. The cost of which, as per The Guardian, would amount to 4.6 million pounds (approx $5.7 million).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Not to mention the cost of the members of the media or delegations of businesspeople who accompanied the ministers on these trips, which is&nbsp;also paid for by the UK taxpayers. The number of people travelling with Cleverly was not known.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Cleverly’s office responds</strong></h2>

<p>“The foreign secretary’s job requires him to travel abroad to pursue UK interests. This was the most time-effective way to do this in this instance,” said a spokesperson from the foreign, commonwealth and development office, as per The Guardian. The statement added, “Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions and costs are regularly published for transparency.”</p>

<p>The spokesperson&nbsp;also said that the ministers use commercial flights where practical and security considerations allow.&nbsp;<br />
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British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is in the midst of a four-country trip to the Caribbean and South America and has recently come under fire for his choice of aircraft.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is in the midst of a four-country trip to the Caribbean and South America and has recently come under fire for his choice of aircraft. At a time when the economy in the United Kingdom is not faring well and the country is facing a cost of living crisis, the minister chose to travel in luxury with the Embraer Lineage 1000E, reported The Guardian. ‘Best luxury jet money can buy’: Embraer Lineage 1000E According to the media report, the jet costs more than 10,000 pounds (over $12,000) an hour to hire and includes several amenities like a lounge area with big-screen TV, a master suite complete with a queen-size bed, a private bathroom and a shower. The Embraer Lineage 1000E has been described as “one of the best luxury private jets money can buy” by Business Insider. The aircraft from the German aviation company has also featured in the fleet of corporate jets and is a go-to private jet used by the billionaire Roy family in the hit TV show Succession. As per media reports, the ten-day trip that the British foreign secretary is on would cost the UK taxpayers about 348,000 pounds (approximately $431,078). As of Monday, with a flying time of nearly 19 hours since Cleverly visited Jamaica, Colombia, and Chile, the private jet has already cost the taxpayers around 228,000 pounds (approx $282,520), reported The Mirror. ‘Ludicrous extravagance’: Opposition Labour Party on use of private jet The opposition Labour Party has called the hire of Embraer Lineage 1000E a “ludicrous extravagance” and accused the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government of being out of touch with the public, as per The Guardian. The shadow Attorney General, Emily Thornberry acknowledged that while travelling overseas is an essential part of the foreign secretary’s role, it does not justify his use of a luxury jet when British families are running out of ways to make ends meet. “At a time when British families are running out of ways to make ends meet – James Cleverly thought it was appropriate to conduct this tour in the kind of luxury jet used by billionaires and pop stars, with British taxpayers footing the bill,” said Thornberry, as quoted by The Guardian. She added, “This sort of ludicrous extravagance at the public expense just shows how out of touch Rishi Sunak’s government are. No wonder their response to the cost of living crisis has been so utterly hopeless when they have such little concept of what ordinary life is like for people in our country.” According to the media report, between the beginning of 2021 and the end of last year, foreign secretaries - Dominic Raab, Liz Truss and Cleverly - have hired private jets or used one of the government’s fleets of ministerial planes to travel overseas on 31 separate occasions. The cost of which, as per The Guardian, would amount to 4.6 million pounds (approx $5.7 million). Not to mention the cost of the members of the media or delegations of businesspeople who accompanied the ministers on these trips, which is also paid for by the UK taxpayers. The number of people travelling with Cleverly was not known. Cleverly’s office responds “The foreign secretary’s job requires him to travel abroad to pursue UK interests. This was the most time-effective way to do this in this instance,” said a spokesperson from the foreign, commonwealth and development office, as per The Guardian. The statement added, “Value for money is taken into account in all travel decisions and costs are regularly published for transparency.” The spokesperson also said that the ministers use commercial flights where practical and security considerations allow. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly criticised for use of $12,000-an-hour private jet

UK Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Rapp says that he will not stand for the next general election first report in the UK publication The Telegraph. Raab's decision comes after he resigned as a minister following a bullying report which said that he behaved unprofessionally with his colleague

Dominic Raab won't contest next General Elections

<p><strong>Suella Braverman</strong>, the UK Home Secretary, has found herself embroiled in controversy after being caught speeding in a 50mph zone last summer. At the time, she held the position of Attorney General and was given the choice of accepting a fine and points on her license or attending a speed awareness course. However, it is alleged that she requested assistance from civil servants to arrange a one-to-one course to avoid being recognised by fellow participants.</p>

<p>When civil servants refused her request, a political adviser is said to have intervened, exploring options such as online courses without revealing her identity. Eventually, Braverman chose to pay the fine. Now, sources close to Braverman deny parts of this account and claim that she only sought advice on booking the course. However, the controversy surrounding her actions still remains.</p>

<h2><strong>Suella Braverman allegedly breached the ministerial code</strong></h2>

<p>The involvement of civil servants in a personal matter could be seen as a breach of the ministerial code. This code states that ministers must ensure that no conflict arises between their public duties and private interests. Given Braverman's role as Home Secretary, responsible for law enforcement, the clash between her public role and private actions may appear even more significant. The ministerial code also incorporates the seven "Nolan Principles," including selflessness and integrity, which could potentially be compromised by her actions.</p>

<h2><strong>The matter now closed, says PM Sunak</strong></h2>

<p>Regarding the investigation of ministerial code breaches, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that the matter was closed as Braverman expressed regret, accepted the penalty, and paid the fine.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman joins Tory Rebellion</strong></p>

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<p>However, if the controversy persists, the PM could choose to refer the matter to his ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. Magnus would then conduct an investigation, but the final decision on Braverman's fate would rest with the Prime Minister himself. It's worth noting that Magnus lacks the power to initiate independent inquiries, similar to his predecessors.</p>

<h2><strong>Braverman: A serial offender&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Braverman has a history of ethics breaches. Last October, she resigned as Home Secretary in Liz Truss's government after admitting to emailing a confidential document from her personal email address to another MP. With Truss's leadership under pressure at the time, Braverman's resignation letter criticised the Prime Minister, stating, "pretending we haven't made mistakes... is not serious politics."</p>

<p>Surprisingly, she was reappointed to the same post by Sunak just a week later, a move seen as an attempt to strengthen support from right-wing Tories.</p>

<h2><strong>Will Braverman face the music?</strong></h2>

<p>As the controversy surrounding Suella Braverman's speeding incident continues, it remains to be seen whether her actions will ultimately cost her job. The Prime Minister's decision and the potential involvement of the ethics adviser could determine her fate.</p>

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Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary, has found herself embroiled in controversy after being caught speeding in a 50mph zone last summer. At the time, she held the position of Attorney General and was given the choice of accepting a fine and points on her license or attending a speed awareness course.

Suella Braverman, the UK Home Secretary, has found herself embroiled in controversy after being caught speeding in a 50mph zone last summer. At the time, she held the position of Attorney General and was given the choice of accepting a fine and points on her license or attending a speed awareness course. However, it is alleged that she requested assistance from civil servants to arrange a one-to-one course to avoid being recognised by fellow participants. When civil servants refused her request, a political adviser is said to have intervened, exploring options such as online courses without revealing her identity. Eventually, Braverman chose to pay the fine. Now, sources close to Braverman deny parts of this account and claim that she only sought advice on booking the course. However, the controversy surrounding her actions still remains. Suella Braverman allegedly breached the ministerial code The involvement of civil servants in a personal matter could be seen as a breach of the ministerial code. This code states that ministers must ensure that no conflict arises between their public duties and private interests. Given Braverman's role as Home Secretary, responsible for law enforcement, the clash between her public role and private actions may appear even more significant. The ministerial code also incorporates the seven "Nolan Principles," including selflessness and integrity, which could potentially be compromised by her actions. The matter now closed, says PM Sunak Regarding the investigation of ministerial code breaches, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested that the matter was closed as Braverman expressed regret, accepted the penalty, and paid the fine. Watch: UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman joins Tory Rebellion × However, if the controversy persists, the PM could choose to refer the matter to his ethics adviser, Sir Laurie Magnus. Magnus would then conduct an investigation, but the final decision on Braverman's fate would rest with the Prime Minister himself. It's worth noting that Magnus lacks the power to initiate independent inquiries, similar to his predecessors. Braverman: A serial offender Braverman has a history of ethics breaches. Last October, she resigned as Home Secretary in Liz Truss's government after admitting to emailing a confidential document from her personal email address to another MP. With Truss's leadership under pressure at the time, Braverman's resignation letter criticised the Prime Minister, stating, "pretending we haven't made mistakes... is not serious politics." Surprisingly, she was reappointed to the same post by Sunak just a week later, a move seen as an attempt to strengthen support from right-wing Tories. Will Braverman face the music? As the controversy surrounding Suella Braverman's speeding incident continues, it remains to be seen whether her actions will ultimately cost her job. The Prime Minister's decision and the potential involvement of the ethics adviser could determine her fate. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Will a speeding incident cost Suella Braverman her job?

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing flak for his decision on the Braverman speeding case. What has he said? Will the PM survive the harsh criticism? Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: UK PM Rishi Sunak gets stuck in Braverman's speeding case

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is under extreme pressure to launch an ethics investigation over traffic speeding row around British Home Secretary Suella Braverman. According to Downing Street, Sunak will meet the ethics advisor over the row after opposition leaders demanded a probe on weather Braverman breached strict ministerial rules by asking civil servants for special treatment.

Braverman speeding row: Pressure on UK PM Rishi Sunak to launch inquiry on Braverman

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a productive meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Sunday during which the two leaders reviewed the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries which included progress in India-UK FTA negotiations.<br />
<br />
PM Modi and Rishi Sunak further agreed to deepen bilateral co-operation across a wide range of areas such as science and technology, trade and investment.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Hiroshima, Japan. <a href="https://t.co/qf1VHiMl9i">pic.twitter.com/qf1VHiMl9i</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1660095586513694722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>The two leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit which is being held in Hiroshima, Japan. Before their talks, Modi and Sunak also exchanged a tight hug.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/exclusive-pm-modi-president-zelenskyy-to-meet-in-hiroshima-594003"><strong>&nbsp;</strong>EXCLUSIVE: Modi, Zelensky to meet in Hiroshima, have first in-person interaction since Russian invasion</a></p>

<h2><strong>Modi calls talks with Sunak 'fruitful'</strong></h2>

<p>"A boost to - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi held productive talks with PM @RishiSunak of the UK in Hiroshima. The two leaders reviewed their Strategic Partnership, including taking stock of progress in India-UK FTA negotiations," tweeted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).<br />
<br />
“Leaders agreed to deepen co-operation across a wide range of areas, such as trade &amp; investment, science &amp; technology, higher education, and people-to-people relationship,” the MEA stated.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, India's PM Modi tweeted, “The meeting with PM @RishiSunak was a very fruitful one. We discussed boosting co-operation in trade, innovation, science and other such sectors.”</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The meeting with PM <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishiSunak</a> was a very fruitful one. We discussed boosting cooperation in trade, innovation, science and other such sectors. <a href="https://t.co/FI9nI1gc9V">pic.twitter.com/FI9nI1gc9V</a></p>
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/1660114033645846528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 21, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Since January 2022, India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA, with a goal towards a comprehensive pact which is expected to significantly increase the bilateral trading relationship which is worth £34 billion ($42 billion) in 2022.<br />
<br />
Last month, both nations ended the ninth round of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations after holding detailed talks across various policy areas.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | G7 Hiroshima Meet 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents India at Summit</strong></p>

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<p><br />
Recently, Britain's Chief Negotiator for the FTA Harjinder Kang was appointed as India's new Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India based in Mumbai.<br />
<br />
As per the official statistics of the UK government, India has been the 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters till the end of Q3 2022, accounting for total UK trade's 2.1 per cent.</p>

<p>Earlier in the day, PM Modi&nbsp;visited the Peace Memorial Museum&nbsp;where he saw the documented exhibits and signed the visitor’s book. He also&nbsp;paid floral&nbsp;tributes to the&nbsp;Hiroshima victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The prime minister also engaged in a brief conversation with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. India's&nbsp;PM Modi also held&nbsp;bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.</p>

<p>Modi reached Hiroshima, Japan on Friday for attending the G7 summit's three sessions after receiving an invitation from Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a productive meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Sunday during which the two leaders reviewed the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries which included progress in India-UK FTA negotiations.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a productive meeting with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Sunday during which the two leaders reviewed the bilateral strategic partnership between the two countries which included progress in India-UK FTA negotiations. PM Modi and Rishi Sunak further agreed to deepen bilateral co-operation across a wide range of areas such as science and technology, trade and investment. #WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds a bilateral meeting with United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Hiroshima, Japan. pic.twitter.com/qf1VHiMl9i — ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2023 × The two leaders held bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G7 Summit which is being held in Hiroshima, Japan. Before their talks, Modi and Sunak also exchanged a tight hug. ALSO READ | EXCLUSIVE: Modi, Zelensky to meet in Hiroshima, have first in-person interaction since Russian invasion Modi calls talks with Sunak 'fruitful' "A boost to - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. PM @narendramodi held productive talks with PM @RishiSunak of the UK in Hiroshima. The two leaders reviewed their Strategic Partnership, including taking stock of progress in India-UK FTA negotiations," tweeted the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). “Leaders agreed to deepen co-operation across a wide range of areas, such as trade & investment, science & technology, higher education, and people-to-people relationship,” the MEA stated. Meanwhile, India's PM Modi tweeted, “The meeting with PM @RishiSunak was a very fruitful one. We discussed boosting co-operation in trade, innovation, science and other such sectors.” The meeting with PM @RishiSunak was a very fruitful one. We discussed boosting cooperation in trade, innovation, science and other such sectors. pic.twitter.com/FI9nI1gc9V — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 21, 2023 × Since January 2022, India and the UK have been negotiating an FTA, with a goal towards a comprehensive pact which is expected to significantly increase the bilateral trading relationship which is worth £34 billion ($42 billion) in 2022. Last month, both nations ended the ninth round of India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations after holding detailed talks across various policy areas. WATCH | G7 Hiroshima Meet 2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi represents India at Summit Recently, Britain's Chief Negotiator for the FTA Harjinder Kang was appointed as India's new Trade Commissioner to South Asia and Deputy High Commissioner for Western India based in Mumbai. As per the official statistics of the UK government, India has been the 12th largest trading partner in the four quarters till the end of Q3 2022, accounting for total UK trade's 2.1 per cent. Earlier in the day, PM Modi visited the Peace Memorial Museum where he saw the documented exhibits and signed the visitor’s book. He also paid floral tributes to the Hiroshima victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. The prime minister also engaged in a brief conversation with Australian PM Anthony Albanese. India's PM Modi also held bilateral talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Modi reached Hiroshima, Japan on Friday for attending the G7 summit's three sessions after receiving an invitation from Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Bilateral at G7: Modi, Sunak review FTA progress, agree to deepen cooperation on trade & investment

<p>United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing criticism online for misusing the feature of alt text on Twitter.<br />
<br />
Sunak shared a four-picture photo grid on Wednesday which showed cabinet members having a meeting. When a user clicks the images, each of them expands to reveal various things that the government claims to have done.<br />
<br />
“We are working day-in and day-out to grow the economy,” wrote Sunak in the caption of the social media post. The alt text field, in which the description is added to make the blind users understand what is present in the image, simply read: “We're growing the economy”.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">We are working day-in and day-out to grow the economy. <a href="https://t.co/wYgxplNEZm">pic.twitter.com/wYgxplNEZm</a></p>
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1658875780934270990?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 17, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>For people who are unaware, alt text is the way in which images are made more accessible to those who have lost their eyesight or are visually impaired. The feature is generally used by social media users to describe the central information and key details in a photo or graphic.<br />
<br />
According to the Help Center article on Twitter, the aim of writing descriptions of images is to be concise and clear, while providing more context to the tweet.<br />
<br />
“It's important to capture the action, movement, relationships, noteworthiness, visual details, and anything unique,” it stated. It should be noted that this accessibility feature also works with screen readers.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-g7-summit-sunak-says-ukraine-must-win-war-hails-zelenskys-attendance-at-summit-594674">At G7 summit, Sunak says Ukraine must win war, hails Zelensky's attendance at summit</a></p>

<p><br />
However, even though the photos tweeted by Sunak expanded and revealed the list of things which were done by the government, the same information did not appear in the alt text.<br />
<br />
Because of this, Sunak received backlash from social media users who criticised him for not adding a full description of the images.<br />
<br />
The approach of the government to the accessibility feature was criticised by charities representing blind people such as the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB).</p>

<h2><strong>'Worst alt text I've ever seen', say&nbsp;Twitteratis</strong><br />
&nbsp;</h2>

<p>Responding to Sunak's tweet, RNIB tweeted a video demonstration of what the images shared sounded like to blind people who used a screen reader.<br />
<br />
Other Twitter account holders, which included author Adam Kay, described the misuse of the feature by Sunak as “the worst alt text I've ever seen”.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hello, Prime Minister - this is how your tweet sounds to blind and partially sighted people who use screen readers. There are 1000 characters available for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AltText?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AltText</a>, which can help make sure all the information you want to share is communicated. <a href="https://t.co/nCsTE8gKxY">https://t.co/nCsTE8gKxY</a> <a href="https://t.co/LNkCbOJtrD">pic.twitter.com/LNkCbOJtrD</a></p>
— RNIB (@RNIB) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNIB/status/1659124516079927298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UK inflation at 10-year-high, says report; PM Rishi Sunak claims economy is looking up | WION</strong></p>

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<p><br />
“Shame on whoever is running the @RishiSunak account. Absolute insult to visually impaired people the way you've abused the alt text field,” another user wrote.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, BBC published a statement released by Downing Street which stated, “We use a broad range of methods and channels to communicate with the public and aim to ensure that they are as accessible as possible. That includes using alternative text on our social channels”.</p>

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United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing criticism online for misusing the feature of alt text on Twitter. Sunak shared a four-picture photo grid on Wednesday which showed cabinet members having a meeting.

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing criticism online for misusing the feature of alt text on Twitter. Sunak shared a four-picture photo grid on Wednesday which showed cabinet members having a meeting. When a user clicks the images, each of them expands to reveal various things that the government claims to have done. “We are working day-in and day-out to grow the economy,” wrote Sunak in the caption of the social media post. The alt text field, in which the description is added to make the blind users understand what is present in the image, simply read: “We're growing the economy”. We are working day-in and day-out to grow the economy. pic.twitter.com/wYgxplNEZm — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 17, 2023 × For people who are unaware, alt text is the way in which images are made more accessible to those who have lost their eyesight or are visually impaired. The feature is generally used by social media users to describe the central information and key details in a photo or graphic. According to the Help Center article on Twitter, the aim of writing descriptions of images is to be concise and clear, while providing more context to the tweet. “It's important to capture the action, movement, relationships, noteworthiness, visual details, and anything unique,” it stated. It should be noted that this accessibility feature also works with screen readers. ALSO READ | At G7 summit, Sunak says Ukraine must win war, hails Zelensky's attendance at summit However, even though the photos tweeted by Sunak expanded and revealed the list of things which were done by the government, the same information did not appear in the alt text. Because of this, Sunak received backlash from social media users who criticised him for not adding a full description of the images. The approach of the government to the accessibility feature was criticised by charities representing blind people such as the Royal National Institute for Blind (RNIB). 'Worst alt text I've ever seen', say Twitteratis Responding to Sunak's tweet, RNIB tweeted a video demonstration of what the images shared sounded like to blind people who used a screen reader. Other Twitter account holders, which included author Adam Kay, described the misuse of the feature by Sunak as “the worst alt text I've ever seen”. Hello, Prime Minister - this is how your tweet sounds to blind and partially sighted people who use screen readers. There are 1000 characters available for #AltText, which can help make sure all the information you want to share is communicated. https://t.co/nCsTE8gKxY pic.twitter.com/LNkCbOJtrD — RNIB (@RNIB) May 18, 2023 × WATCH | UK inflation at 10-year-high, says report; PM Rishi Sunak claims economy is looking up | WION “Shame on whoever is running the @RishiSunak account. Absolute insult to visually impaired people the way you've abused the alt text field,” another user wrote. Meanwhile, BBC published a statement released by Downing Street which stated, “We use a broad range of methods and channels to communicate with the public and aim to ensure that they are as accessible as possible. That includes using alternative text on our social channels”. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK's Rishi Sunak faces criticism for misusing Twitter's Alt Text feature

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<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday (May 21) that Ukraine must win the war against Russia, adding the G7 is delivering more support for the war-torn country on the battlefield with tanks and long-range missiles. Addressing a press conference in Japan's Hiroshima, Prime Minister Sunak hailed Ukrainian President&nbsp;Volodymyr Zelensky's presence at the G7 summit by calling it a "moment of historical significance," the BBC reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The image of the G7 and our partners, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelensky, sends a powerful message about the unity and determination of the G7 and its allies," Sunak said. "We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes because their security is our security," the British Prime Minister added, the BBC reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pm-modi-reviews-bilateral-strategic-ties-with-his-british-counterpart-rishi-sunak-594621">PM Modi reviews bilateral strategic ties with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak</a></strong></p>

<p>A day back, Rishi Sunak met Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit. Sunak hugged the Ukrainian president and said that the UK's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia was not going anywhere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Patting Zelensky on the back, Sunak said, "Good to see you. You made it."</p>

<p>The meeting came as the UK pledged to send hundreds of air defence missiles and armed drones to Ukraine. This meant that it was going further than any other country in providing weapons (to Ukraine).&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, Sunak and other G7 leaders agreed to tighten sanctions against Russia and pare back exposure to China.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>China poses greatest challenge of our age: Sunak</strong></h2>

<p>During Sunday's press conference, British PM Sunak hit out at China by saying that it is "increasingly authoritarian at home and abroad". He explicitly identified China as "posing the greatest challenge of our age" in regard to global security and prosperity. Further slamming China, Sunak referred to a Saturday statement of the G7 that was aimed at tackling economic coercion.</p>

<p>The communique did not name China. But Sunak directly mentioned China here.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-china-come-down-heavy-on-g7-after-grouping-targets-them-594616">Russia, China come down heavy on G7 after grouping targets them</a></strong></p>

<p>"The UK completely aligns with our allies. This is all about derisking not decoupling," he said, and referred to the weight of the combined G7 alliance to prevent Beijing from using economic coercion to interfere in the sovereign affairs of others".</p>

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday (May 21) that Ukraine must win the war against Russia, adding the G7 is delivering more support for the war-torn country on the battlefield with tanks and long-range missiles.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Sunday (May 21) that Ukraine must win the war against Russia, adding the G7 is delivering more support for the war-torn country on the battlefield with tanks and long-range missiles. Addressing a press conference in Japan's Hiroshima, Prime Minister Sunak hailed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's presence at the G7 summit by calling it a "moment of historical significance," the BBC reported. "The image of the G7 and our partners, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with President Zelensky, sends a powerful message about the unity and determination of the G7 and its allies," Sunak said. "We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes because their security is our security," the British Prime Minister added, the BBC reported. ALSO READ | PM Modi reviews bilateral strategic ties with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak A day back, Rishi Sunak met Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit. Sunak hugged the Ukrainian president and said that the UK's support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia was not going anywhere. Patting Zelensky on the back, Sunak said, "Good to see you. You made it." The meeting came as the UK pledged to send hundreds of air defence missiles and armed drones to Ukraine. This meant that it was going further than any other country in providing weapons (to Ukraine). On Friday, Sunak and other G7 leaders agreed to tighten sanctions against Russia and pare back exposure to China. China poses greatest challenge of our age: Sunak During Sunday's press conference, British PM Sunak hit out at China by saying that it is "increasingly authoritarian at home and abroad". He explicitly identified China as "posing the greatest challenge of our age" in regard to global security and prosperity. Further slamming China, Sunak referred to a Saturday statement of the G7 that was aimed at tackling economic coercion. The communique did not name China. But Sunak directly mentioned China here. ALSO READ | Russia, China come down heavy on G7 after grouping targets them "The UK completely aligns with our allies. This is all about derisking not decoupling," he said, and referred to the weight of the combined G7 alliance to prevent Beijing from using economic coercion to interfere in the sovereign affairs of others". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

At G7 summit, Sunak says Ukraine must win war, hails Zelensky's attendance at summit

<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy's consolidated wealth declined in the last 12 months. However, the couple with a net worth of $668 million still remains immune from the cost of living crisis which remains dominant on the political agenda of the United Kingdom.<br />
<br />
The power couple has been currently ranked in the 275th position in the Sunday Times Rich List, falling from their 222nd position last year because of the decline in value of their stake in India's IT giant Infosys, which has been founded by Akshata Murthy's father N R Narayana Murthy.<br />
<br />
“Over the past year, their wealth has fallen by more than half a million pounds a day. When the pair made their debut on the Rich List 12 months ago, this stake was worth about GBP 690 million. Since then Infosys' shares have plummeted owing to lower revenues from its banking, tech and other clients,” stated an analysis published in the Sunday Times Rich List.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-no-longer-committed-to-bringing-net-migration-below-250000-593785">UK PM Rishi Sunak no longer committed to bringing net migration below 250,000</a></p>

<h2><strong>Sunak's wealth declined from&nbsp;$908 million to $658 million</strong></h2>

<p>As United Kingdom's PM, Sunak earns an annual salary of around $205,367. When he took the position of prime minister last October, his income increased from the general lawmaker rate but it was not enough to cushion the decline in his wealth which was estimated at $908 million last year to $658 million in 2023.<br />
<br />
Because of his fortune, Sunak faces&nbsp;regular attacks from opposition politicians who claim that he is out of touch with people from the ordinary class at a time when citizens of Britain are getting poorer.<br />
<br />
Inflation in the country stands at over 10 per cent and people's wages have not increased frequently which has resulted in squeezing household incomes and causing a "cost of living crisis". Sunak took the pledge to halve inflation and enhance the economy to address the issue.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;UK inflation at 10-year-high, says report; PM Rishi Sunak claims economy is looking up | WION</strong></p>

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<p>Sunak is 10 Downing Street's richest occupant ever but he has constantly appealed to people to not hold his wealth against him.<br />
<br />
"I think in our country, we judge people not by their bank account, we judge them by their character and their actions. And yes, I'm really fortunate to be in the situation I'm in now, but I wasn't born like this," Sunak had said last year.<br />
<br />
Sunak's wife Akshata had also faced public anger and criticism in April over her "non-domiciled" tax status which meant she was not required to pay tax in Britain on the earnings she made abroad. Subsequently, she gave up the status and agreed to pay British tax on her global income.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy's consolidated wealth declined in the last 12 months. However, the couple with a net worth of $668 million still remains immune from the cost of living crisis which remains dominant on the political agenda of the United Kingdom.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murthy's consolidated wealth declined in the last 12 months. However, the couple with a net worth of $668 million still remains immune from the cost of living crisis which remains dominant on the political agenda of the United Kingdom. The power couple has been currently ranked in the 275th position in the Sunday Times Rich List, falling from their 222nd position last year because of the decline in value of their stake in India's IT giant Infosys, which has been founded by Akshata Murthy's father N R Narayana Murthy. “Over the past year, their wealth has fallen by more than half a million pounds a day. When the pair made their debut on the Rich List 12 months ago, this stake was worth about GBP 690 million. Since then Infosys' shares have plummeted owing to lower revenues from its banking, tech and other clients,” stated an analysis published in the Sunday Times Rich List. ALSO READ | UK PM Rishi Sunak no longer committed to bringing net migration below 250,000 Sunak's wealth declined from $908 million to $658 million As United Kingdom's PM, Sunak earns an annual salary of around $205,367. When he took the position of prime minister last October, his income increased from the general lawmaker rate but it was not enough to cushion the decline in his wealth which was estimated at $908 million last year to $658 million in 2023. Because of his fortune, Sunak faces regular attacks from opposition politicians who claim that he is out of touch with people from the ordinary class at a time when citizens of Britain are getting poorer. Inflation in the country stands at over 10 per cent and people's wages have not increased frequently which has resulted in squeezing household incomes and causing a "cost of living crisis". Sunak took the pledge to halve inflation and enhance the economy to address the issue. WATCH | UK inflation at 10-year-high, says report; PM Rishi Sunak claims economy is looking up | WION Sunak is 10 Downing Street's richest occupant ever but he has constantly appealed to people to not hold his wealth against him. "I think in our country, we judge people not by their bank account, we judge them by their character and their actions. And yes, I'm really fortunate to be in the situation I'm in now, but I wasn't born like this," Sunak had said last year. Sunak's wife Akshata had also faced public anger and criticism in April over her "non-domiciled" tax status which meant she was not required to pay tax in Britain on the earnings she made abroad. Subsequently, she gave up the status and agreed to pay British tax on her global income. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK PM Rishi Sunak, wife lose $668 million as value of their Infosys stake plummets

<p>The United Kingdom on Friday (May 19) unveiled new sanctions against Russia's minerals sector. In the latest round, Britain has targeted imports of aluminium, diamonds, copper, and nickel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of a G7 summit in Japan, said, "As today's sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ahead of the summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the UK said that the sanctions are aimed at banning Russian diamonds and will target more entities involved in Russian President Vladimir Putin's "military-industrial complex".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Reports have mentioned that Russia's diamond trade is estimated to be worth $4-5 billion each year, providing much-needed tax money to the Kremlin.&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Ensuring Ukraine wins is the most important thing we can do for global peace and security.<br />
<br />
We are banning all imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium and nickel.<br />
<br />
Sanctions are having a clear impact in degrading Putin’s war effort.<br />
<br />
The G7 stands united with 🇺🇦 <a href="https://t.co/rrHblLoF5K">pic.twitter.com/rrHblLoF5K</a></p>
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1659350475018207233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/G7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@G7</a> focus is and always has been on promoting peace &amp; global economic security.<br />
<br />
This year will be no different, I want to seize this opportunity to:<br />
<br />
📈Boost economic growth<br />
🇺🇦Show Putin that the G7 stands by Ukraine<br />
🤝Bolster peace and security in the Indo-Pacific <a href="https://t.co/zUZxQAo9pn">pic.twitter.com/zUZxQAo9pn</a></p>
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak/status/1659157920167100416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Besides those involved in the energy, metals and shipping industries, Britain is also targeting an additional 86 people and companies, including those who support the Kremlin's efforts to actively undermine the impact of existing sanctions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UK government said that the announcement was made as Britain continues to engage with G7 allies to combat all types of sanctions evasion.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russian missiles rain down on Kyiv, Odesa&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>G7 summit on Friday in Hiroshima&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Leaders of Japan, the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Italy have started to gather ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Friday in Hiroshima. The G7 countries are poised to use the summit to announce tightened sanctions on Russia and debate strategy on a more than year-long conflict that shows no sign of easing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UK-based media outlets reported that at the summit, Sunak will probably try to pressurise leaders who have maintained a more neutral stance over the ongoing Russia-Ukrain war — for example, the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted, Sunak said, "One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil. That is going to be in that second part of the summit which is a good thing."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"One of my three things is talking to countries around the world and making sure they realise what is going on, the war crimes Russia is committing inside Ukraine and why everyone should support bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict," Sunak said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A European Union official on Thursday said one potential target for discussion was Russia's multi-billion-dollar diamond industry.</p>

<p>As quoted by AFP, the official said: "We believe we need to limit exports from Russian trade in this sector." The member Belgium is among the largest wholesale buyers of Russian diamonds, along with India and the United Arab Emirates.&nbsp;</p>

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The United Kingdom on Friday (May 19) unveiled new sanctions against Russia's minerals sector. In the latest round, Britain has targeted imports of aluminium, diamonds, copper, and nickel.

The United Kingdom on Friday (May 19) unveiled new sanctions against Russia's minerals sector. In the latest round, Britain has targeted imports of aluminium, diamonds, copper, and nickel. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on the margins of a G7 summit in Japan, said, "As today's sanctions announcements demonstrate, the G7 remains unified in the face of the threat from Russia and steadfast in our support for Ukraine." Ahead of the summit in Hiroshima, Japan, the UK said that the sanctions are aimed at banning Russian diamonds and will target more entities involved in Russian President Vladimir Putin's "military-industrial complex". Reports have mentioned that Russia's diamond trade is estimated to be worth $4-5 billion each year, providing much-needed tax money to the Kremlin. Ensuring Ukraine wins is the most important thing we can do for global peace and security. We are banning all imports of Russian diamonds, copper, aluminium and nickel. Sanctions are having a clear impact in degrading Putin’s war effort. The G7 stands united with 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/rrHblLoF5K — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 19, 2023 × The @G7 focus is and always has been on promoting peace & global economic security. This year will be no different, I want to seize this opportunity to: 📈Boost economic growth 🇺🇦Show Putin that the G7 stands by Ukraine 🤝Bolster peace and security in the Indo-Pacific pic.twitter.com/zUZxQAo9pn — Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) May 18, 2023 × Besides those involved in the energy, metals and shipping industries, Britain is also targeting an additional 86 people and companies, including those who support the Kremlin's efforts to actively undermine the impact of existing sanctions. The UK government said that the announcement was made as Britain continues to engage with G7 allies to combat all types of sanctions evasion. WATCH | Russian missiles rain down on Kyiv, Odesa × G7 summit on Friday in Hiroshima Leaders of Japan, the United States, Germany, Britain, France, Canada and Italy have started to gather ahead of the Group of Seven (G7) summit on Friday in Hiroshima. The G7 countries are poised to use the summit to announce tightened sanctions on Russia and debate strategy on a more than year-long conflict that shows no sign of easing. UK-based media outlets reported that at the summit, Sunak will probably try to pressurise leaders who have maintained a more neutral stance over the ongoing Russia-Ukrain war — for example, the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. As quoted, Sunak said, "One thing we have to keep doing is talking to countries like India and also Brazil. That is going to be in that second part of the summit which is a good thing." "One of my three things is talking to countries around the world and making sure they realise what is going on, the war crimes Russia is committing inside Ukraine and why everyone should support bringing about a peaceful resolution to the conflict," Sunak said. A European Union official on Thursday said one potential target for discussion was Russia's multi-billion-dollar diamond industry. As quoted by AFP, the official said: "We believe we need to limit exports from Russian trade in this sector." The member Belgium is among the largest wholesale buyers of Russian diamonds, along with India and the United Arab Emirates. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK unveils new Russian sanctions, including ban on diamonds, copper

Plans for the foundation of Great British Railways, introduced by former UK PM Boris Johnson as a way to fix Britain's rail network, have been slowly abandoned by the current administration led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

UK PM Rishi Sunak scraps Boris Johnson's great British Railway Project

British prime minister Rishi Sunak and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday signed the Hiroshima Accord – a document declaring a global strategic partnership between the two island nations.

Hiroshima G7 Summit: UK and Japan ink Hiroshima agreement

<p>United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to remain committed to the pledge made by Boris Johnson of bringing annual net migration numbers below 250,000 till the next elections, as he argued that handling illegal migration is "undoubtedly the country's priority".<br />
<br />
The Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto committed to making sure "overall numbers come down". At the time, the country's net migration remained at 226,000, which was seen as an effective target to meet during this parliament.<br />
<br />
While interacting with journalists on his way to the G7 summit in Japan, PM Sunak accepted that he had "inherited some numbers", but he thrice refused to explicitly recommit to cutting down legal immigration in the country to that level.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/rishi-sunak-taps-linkedin-to-boost-uk-businesses-585925">Rishi Sunak taps LinkedIn to boost UK businesses</a></p>

<p>"I've said I do want to bring legal migration down. I think illegal migration is undoubtedly the country's priority, and you can see all the work I'm putting into that. But on legal migration as well, we are committed to bringing those numbers down,” Sunak said.</p>

<h2><strong>Sunak&nbsp;focuses on curbing illegal small boat crossings</strong></h2>

<p>Speaking about the meeting he had conducted in Iceland earlier this week, Sunak stated that talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had resulted in "a big step forward" in his efforts to stop small boat crossings in the Channel.<br />
<br />
"That is of practical value to us in stopping illegal migration - sharing intelligence, operational co-operation will make a difference to our ability to stop the boats, tackle organised crime upstream. That’s a very tangible result of the engagement and diplomacy we conducted,” Sunak said.<br />
<br />
Explaining his unwillingness to place a hard target on legal migration levels, PM Sunak said, "The key thing for people is to know [when it comes to legal migration] is why people are here, the circumstances and the terms on which they are here, making sure they contribute, to public services like the NHS for example. Those are all now part of our migration system and they weren't before."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | PM Rishi Sunak visits Japanese Naval Base ahead of G7 Summit</strong></p>

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<p><br />
According to media reports, Sunak's focus on curbing illegal small boat crossings and not on setting a specific target for reducing the number of illegal migrants reflects the prime minister's pragmatism.<br />
<br />
"His motto is deliver on promises and don't promise what you can't deliver," stated one government official.<br />
<br />
However, the recent remarks made by the prime minister are likely to stoke tensions in the cabinet where divisions can be seen appearing between those who want to prioritise cutting down overall numbers and those who argue that such measure can limit the country's economic growth.&nbsp;</p>

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United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to remain committed to the pledge made by Boris Johnson of bringing annual net migration numbers below 250,000 till the next elections, as he argued that handling illegal migration is "undoubtedly the country's priority".

United Kingdom's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refused to remain committed to the pledge made by Boris Johnson of bringing annual net migration numbers below 250,000 till the next elections, as he argued that handling illegal migration is "undoubtedly the country's priority". The Conservative Party's 2019 manifesto committed to making sure "overall numbers come down". At the time, the country's net migration remained at 226,000, which was seen as an effective target to meet during this parliament. While interacting with journalists on his way to the G7 summit in Japan, PM Sunak accepted that he had "inherited some numbers", but he thrice refused to explicitly recommit to cutting down legal immigration in the country to that level. ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak taps LinkedIn to boost UK businesses "I've said I do want to bring legal migration down. I think illegal migration is undoubtedly the country's priority, and you can see all the work I'm putting into that. But on legal migration as well, we are committed to bringing those numbers down,” Sunak said. Sunak focuses on curbing illegal small boat crossings Speaking about the meeting he had conducted in Iceland earlier this week, Sunak stated that talks with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had resulted in "a big step forward" in his efforts to stop small boat crossings in the Channel. "That is of practical value to us in stopping illegal migration - sharing intelligence, operational co-operation will make a difference to our ability to stop the boats, tackle organised crime upstream. That’s a very tangible result of the engagement and diplomacy we conducted,” Sunak said. Explaining his unwillingness to place a hard target on legal migration levels, PM Sunak said, "The key thing for people is to know [when it comes to legal migration] is why people are here, the circumstances and the terms on which they are here, making sure they contribute, to public services like the NHS for example. Those are all now part of our migration system and they weren't before." WATCH | PM Rishi Sunak visits Japanese Naval Base ahead of G7 Summit According to media reports, Sunak's focus on curbing illegal small boat crossings and not on setting a specific target for reducing the number of illegal migrants reflects the prime minister's pragmatism. "His motto is deliver on promises and don't promise what you can't deliver," stated one government official. However, the recent remarks made by the prime minister are likely to stoke tensions in the cabinet where divisions can be seen appearing between those who want to prioritise cutting down overall numbers and those who argue that such measure can limit the country's economic growth. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UK PM Rishi Sunak no longer committed to bringing net migration below 250,000

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who was in Japan for the G7 Summit in Hiroshima stopped in Tokyo first to visit a naval base where he announced that Britain will double the number of UK troops in the upcoming joint exercises. The Carrier Strike would work alongside the Japanese self-defence forces and other regional partners to defend peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

PM Rishi Sunak visits Japanese Naval Base ahead of G7 Summit

UK's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak being out of touch with middle class realities in the UK - this comes after Sunak said that the British economy was looking up and people's household incomes were hugely outperforming expectations.

UK inflation at 10-year-high, says report; PM Rishi Sunak claims economy is looking up | WION

<p>Former British prime minister Liz Truss, on Wednesday (May 17), in a speech called for tougher action against China and in a personal plea to her successor Rishi Sunak asked that Beijing be branded as a “threat” to the United Kingdom’s security. This comes amid her five-day trip to Taiwan which the Chinese embassy in London has called a “dangerous political stunt”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Notably, Truss, who is also Britain’s shortest-serving PM, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday and is also the first former British leader to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher in 1996. Upon her arrival in Taiwan, the former UK PM was greeted by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to media reports, Truss is also due to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, however, officials are yet to confirm if the meeting will take place. The press conference on Wednesday also follows a closed-door speech at Taipei’s Grand Hyatt Hotel hosted by the Prospect Foundation, a government-funded think tank that focuses on cross-strait relations.</p>

<p><strong>Truss’ visit to Taiwan</strong></p>

<p>Truss addressed the press in Taipei City on Wednesday and challenged the incumbent PM to follow through his rhetoric when he called China “the biggest-long term threat to Britain,” during the Conservative party leadership contest. In the speech, Sunak also vowed to close nearly 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK, which promote Chinese culture on campus in higher education and some British schools.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the institutes teaching Chinese language and culture recently came under fire amid allegations that these centres are being used by Beijing’s government to spread propaganda, interfere with free speech on campuses, and even spy on students, reported BBC.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During a press conference in Taipei, the former UK PM also asked democratic countries to take a stand against China and make it clear to Beijing that it would face sanctions and other repercussions if it attacked Taiwan. It is “absolutely clear” that Chinese President Xi Jinping has the ambition of taking over Taiwan, said Truss.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She added, “We don’t know exactly when that could take place, we also don’t know how, and it’s my view that the preference of President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party would be to do it in a way that doesn’t involve using force, but I certainly think they would be prepared to use force if necessary,” as quoted by Al Jazeera.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per media reports, she also drew comparisons between escalating tensions in China and Taiwan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>China’s reaction to the visit</strong></p>

<p>A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London, on Wednesday, said that Truss’s visit to Taiwan was a “dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the UK”.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The statement added, “We urge the relevant British politician to correct her wrongdoing, stop making political shows with the Taiwan question and stop conniving at and supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces.”</p>

<p>Notably, the former UK PM is the most senior British lawmaker to visit the country since Thatcher in the 1990s. The embassy also suggested that the visit could have repercussions for the government of the incumbent PM Sunak.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Former British prime minister Liz Truss, on Wednesday (May 17), in a speech called for tougher action against China and in a personal plea to her successor Rishi Sunak asked that Beijing be branded as a “threat” to the United Kingdom’s security.

Former British prime minister Liz Truss, on Wednesday (May 17), in a speech called for tougher action against China and in a personal plea to her successor Rishi Sunak asked that Beijing be branded as a “threat” to the United Kingdom’s security. This comes amid her five-day trip to Taiwan which the Chinese embassy in London has called a “dangerous political stunt”. Notably, Truss, who is also Britain’s shortest-serving PM, arrived in Taiwan on Tuesday and is also the first former British leader to visit Taiwan since Margaret Thatcher in 1996. Upon her arrival in Taiwan, the former UK PM was greeted by Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu. According to media reports, Truss is also due to meet President Tsai Ing-wen, however, officials are yet to confirm if the meeting will take place. The press conference on Wednesday also follows a closed-door speech at Taipei’s Grand Hyatt Hotel hosted by the Prospect Foundation, a government-funded think tank that focuses on cross-strait relations. Truss’ visit to Taiwan Truss addressed the press in Taipei City on Wednesday and challenged the incumbent PM to follow through his rhetoric when he called China “the biggest-long term threat to Britain,” during the Conservative party leadership contest. In the speech, Sunak also vowed to close nearly 30 Confucius Institutes in the UK, which promote Chinese culture on campus in higher education and some British schools. However, the institutes teaching Chinese language and culture recently came under fire amid allegations that these centres are being used by Beijing’s government to spread propaganda, interfere with free speech on campuses, and even spy on students, reported BBC. During a press conference in Taipei, the former UK PM also asked democratic countries to take a stand against China and make it clear to Beijing that it would face sanctions and other repercussions if it attacked Taiwan. It is “absolutely clear” that Chinese President Xi Jinping has the ambition of taking over Taiwan, said Truss. She added, “We don’t know exactly when that could take place, we also don’t know how, and it’s my view that the preference of President Xi and the Chinese Communist Party would be to do it in a way that doesn’t involve using force, but I certainly think they would be prepared to use force if necessary,” as quoted by Al Jazeera. As per media reports, she also drew comparisons between escalating tensions in China and Taiwan and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. China’s reaction to the visit A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in London, on Wednesday, said that Truss’s visit to Taiwan was a “dangerous political show which will do nothing but harm to the UK”. The statement added, “We urge the relevant British politician to correct her wrongdoing, stop making political shows with the Taiwan question and stop conniving at and supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ secessionist forces.” Notably, the former UK PM is the most senior British lawmaker to visit the country since Thatcher in the 1990s. The embassy also suggested that the visit could have repercussions for the government of the incumbent PM Sunak. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Former UK PM Liz Truss calls for tough stance against China amid visit to Taiwan

During a visit to Taiwan, former Prime Minister Liz Truss made a personal plea to Rishi Sunak to label China as a 'threat' to UK security. The former Prime Minister challenged Sunak to keep his promises to rein in China made last summer.

Former UK PM Liz Truss warns against appeasing China, urges PM Sunak to label China as 'threat'

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms - India to help Greece reclaim artefacts from UK, Florida professor breaks record for living underwater for the longest time, Boris Johnson buys stunning $4.7 million mansion after complaining about 'low salary' as UK PM, Ukraine President Zelensky meets UK PM Rishi Sunak.

India to help Greece reclaim artefacts from UK | Zelensky meets UK PM Rishi Sunak

<p>Indian author and philanthropist Sudha Murthy recently described her awkward encounter with an immigration officer during her visit to the United Kingdom. She spoke about how an immigration officer refused to believe her when she filled in her residential address in London as 10 Downing Street, where her son-in-law and current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives.</p>

<p>She shared the story during an appearance at Indian Hindi-language stand-up comedy TV show, <em>The Kapil Sharma Show</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>10 Downing Street, which is the official residence and office of the UK prime minister, is currently home to Rishi Sunak. The first Indian-origin prime minister is married to Sudha Murthy’s daughter Akshata Murthy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Once when I had gone, they asked me my residential address. ‘Where are you staying in London?’ My elder sister was with me and I thought should I write ‘10 Downing Street’,” said the Indian philanthropist. She also spoke about how even though her son also lived in the UK at the time, she couldn’t recall his complete address.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“But I finally wrote 10 Downing Street,” she added. “The fellow [the immigration officer] looked at me and said ‘Are you joking?!’” To which she responded, “Nahi, sachchi bolti hu [No, I am telling you the truth].”</p>

<p>She also went on to point out how no one believes that a 72-year-old, “simple lady” can be the mother-in-law of the PM.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In a video that went viral last month, Murthy was heard saying, “I made my husband a businessman. My daughter made her husband the Prime Minister of the UK."&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The reason is the glory of the wife. See how a wife can change a husband. But I could not change my husband,” she went on to say.</p>

<p>Sudha Murthy is the wife of NR Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Indian IT giant Infosys. She is also the Infosys Foundation chairperson.</p>

<p>Murthy, who was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, also recalled another incident where she was brushed aside by two business class passengers because of her simple apparel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On the show, she also recalled a separate incident and&nbsp;being called “cattle class”.</p>

<p>She&nbsp;overheard the passengers say, “What do these economy class people know of Business Class?” She immediately confronted them and asked them what is this “cattle class” and during the show, went on to criticise this mentality which equates class with the amount of money a person has.&nbsp;<br />
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Indian author and philanthropist Sudha Murthy recently described her awkward encounter with an immigration officer during her visit to the United Kingdom. She spoke about how an immigration officer refused to believe her when she filled in her residential address in London as 10 Downing Street, where her son-in-law and current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives.

Indian author and philanthropist Sudha Murthy recently described her awkward encounter with an immigration officer during her visit to the United Kingdom. She spoke about how an immigration officer refused to believe her when she filled in her residential address in London as 10 Downing Street, where her son-in-law and current British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak lives. She shared the story during an appearance at Indian Hindi-language stand-up comedy TV show, The Kapil Sharma Show. 10 Downing Street, which is the official residence and office of the UK prime minister, is currently home to Rishi Sunak. The first Indian-origin prime minister is married to Sudha Murthy’s daughter Akshata Murthy. “Once when I had gone, they asked me my residential address. ‘Where are you staying in London?’ My elder sister was with me and I thought should I write ‘10 Downing Street’,” said the Indian philanthropist. She also spoke about how even though her son also lived in the UK at the time, she couldn’t recall his complete address. “But I finally wrote 10 Downing Street,” she added. “The fellow [the immigration officer] looked at me and said ‘Are you joking?!’” To which she responded, “Nahi, sachchi bolti hu [No, I am telling you the truth].” She also went on to point out how no one believes that a 72-year-old, “simple lady” can be the mother-in-law of the PM. In a video that went viral last month, Murthy was heard saying, “I made my husband a businessman. My daughter made her husband the Prime Minister of the UK." "The reason is the glory of the wife. See how a wife can change a husband. But I could not change my husband,” she went on to say. Sudha Murthy is the wife of NR Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Indian IT giant Infosys. She is also the Infosys Foundation chairperson. Murthy, who was recently awarded the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian award in India, also recalled another incident where she was brushed aside by two business class passengers because of her simple apparel. On the show, she also recalled a separate incident and being called “cattle class”. She overheard the passengers say, “What do these economy class people know of Business Class?” She immediately confronted them and asked them what is this “cattle class” and during the show, went on to criticise this mentality which equates class with the amount of money a person has. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Are you joking?’: UK immigration officer after Sudha Murthy wrote 10 Downing Street as her address

After wrapping up his Europe tour, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United Kingdom to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. On Thursday, the United Kingdom confirmed that it will provide Ukraine with the long-range missiles it had asked to combat the Russian invasion.

Ukraine President Zelensky meets UK PM Rishi Sunak as more weapons pledged for the country | WION

Conservative MPs have accused Suella Braverman of undermining Rishi Sunak's authority and making a bid for the future leadership of the party with a partisan speech railing against experts and elites.

Tory MPs hit out at UK Home Secretary Braverman for undermining PM Sunak

<p>Britain's Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Monday, while addressing the National Conservatism Conference in London, issued a stark warning against rapid migration into the country and called on the Conservative Party to re-establish its commitment to bring down immigration.</p>

<p>The 43-year-old Tory MP asserted that the industries facing a labour shortage in the United Kingdom should train more people within the country rather than bringing foreign workers from overseas.</p>

<p>"There is no good reason the UK cannot train its own lorry drivers and fruit pickers to bring immigration down," said Braverman.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She argued that it was 'not racist' to make efforts to control the borders, according to an excerpt of the speech released by the BBC.</p>

<p>She further said, "We must not forget how to do things for ourselves".</p>

<p>"It's not xenophobic to say that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing supply, public services and community relations," she said.</p>

<p>"While illegal migration is rightly our priority given the acute challenges we face in the [English] Channel, we must not lose sight of the importance of controlling legal migration too," she added.</p>

<p>Braverman further stressed that there was nothing wrong about someone from an ethnic minority background making such arguments using her parents' reference as having come to the UK through 'legal and controlled migration'.</p>

<p>"They spoke the language. They threw themselves into the community and embraced British values. When they arrived, they signed up to be part of our shared project because the UK meant something distinct. Integration was part of the quid pro quo," she noted.</p>

<p>"The unexamined drive towards multiculturalism as an end in itself, combined with identity politics, is a recipe for communal disaster. We cannot have immigration without integration," she said.</p>

<p>Braverman claimed that she had 'voted and campaigned for' Brexit as she wanted Britain to control migration and also have a call on what works for the country and what doesn't.</p>

<p>"High-skilled workers support economic growth. And where the labour market has acute or structural shortages, as with the NHS, it is of course right that we should have an immigration system agile enough to plug those shortages. But we need to get overall immigration numbers down," the Brexit-backing Cabinet minister said. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Her speech is being viewed by many as a warning shot to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to focus more on his efforts of cutting down immigration.</p>

<h2><strong>"More immigration needed in short term to boost economic growth," say senior Conservatives</strong></h2>

<p>Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston was quoted as saying by the BBC, "Every now and again we also need more people to come into the country, but the key thing was to have control."</p>

<p>"In the long term, we need immigration to come down because that's what has been causing some challenges in local areas for a long period of time," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>PM Sunak's promise to 'stop the boats'</strong></h2>

<p>PM Rishi Sunak vowed to 'stop the boats' used by dozens of immigrants every year to travel to Britain's shores from northern Europe in his efforts to reduce immigration.</p>

<p>According to AFP, more than 45,000 arrived last year, continuing a trend that took off in 2018.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Britain's Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Monday, while addressing the National Conservatism Conference in London, issued a stark warning against rapid migration into the country and called on the Conservative Party to re-establish its commitment to bring down immigration.

Britain's Indian-origin Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, on Monday, while addressing the National Conservatism Conference in London, issued a stark warning against rapid migration into the country and called on the Conservative Party to re-establish its commitment to bring down immigration. The 43-year-old Tory MP asserted that the industries facing a labour shortage in the United Kingdom should train more people within the country rather than bringing foreign workers from overseas. "There is no good reason the UK cannot train its own lorry drivers and fruit pickers to bring immigration down," said Braverman. She argued that it was 'not racist' to make efforts to control the borders, according to an excerpt of the speech released by the BBC. She further said, "We must not forget how to do things for ourselves". "It's not xenophobic to say that mass and rapid migration is unsustainable in terms of housing supply, public services and community relations," she said. "While illegal migration is rightly our priority given the acute challenges we face in the [English] Channel, we must not lose sight of the importance of controlling legal migration too," she added. Braverman further stressed that there was nothing wrong about someone from an ethnic minority background making such arguments using her parents' reference as having come to the UK through 'legal and controlled migration'. "They spoke the language. They threw themselves into the community and embraced British values. When they arrived, they signed up to be part of our shared project because the UK meant something distinct. Integration was part of the quid pro quo," she noted. "The unexamined drive towards multiculturalism as an end in itself, combined with identity politics, is a recipe for communal disaster. We cannot have immigration without integration," she said. Braverman claimed that she had 'voted and campaigned for' Brexit as she wanted Britain to control migration and also have a call on what works for the country and what doesn't. "High-skilled workers support economic growth. And where the labour market has acute or structural shortages, as with the NHS, it is of course right that we should have an immigration system agile enough to plug those shortages. But we need to get overall immigration numbers down," the Brexit-backing Cabinet minister said. Her speech is being viewed by many as a warning shot to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to focus more on his efforts of cutting down immigration. "More immigration needed in short term to boost economic growth," say senior Conservatives Trade Minister Nigel Huddleston was quoted as saying by the BBC, "Every now and again we also need more people to come into the country, but the key thing was to have control." "In the long term, we need immigration to come down because that's what has been causing some challenges in local areas for a long period of time," he added. PM Sunak's promise to 'stop the boats' PM Rishi Sunak vowed to 'stop the boats' used by dozens of immigrants every year to travel to Britain's shores from northern Europe in his efforts to reduce immigration. According to AFP, more than 45,000 arrived last year, continuing a trend that took off in 2018. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

'No good reason UK cannot train its own fruit pickers, butchers to reduce immigration': Suella Braverman

<p>Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (May 15) said that he was "very positive" about creating a "jet coalition" after his meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Zelensky arrived in UK on Monday and proceeded to meet Sunak at the latter's Chequers country estate outside of London. During his talks with Sunak, Zelensky won the promise of 'hundreds' more missiles and drones.</p>

<p>After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, western countries including US have provided Kyiv with weapons and aid. The weapons include rocket launchers, ammunition, tanks and more. However, Ukraine has been asking for fighter jets and this is something the West has been dragging its feet on for fear of escalation.</p>

<p>Sunak said that the UK was readying to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Zelensky meets Sunak: UK promises Ukraine long range missiles and attack drones</strong></p>

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<p>And while Russia's ally China vies to act as peace broker, sending an envoy to Kyiv this week, Zelensky drummed up hefty new packages of military aid on weekend visits to France and Germany.</p>

<p>Russia has reacted sharply to UK's fresh pledge of weapons to Ukraine and has warned that this would only cause "further destruction". Russia on Monday claimed to have downed a Storm Shadow missile which Britain had said last week that it was providing.</p>

<p>Sunak said that his meeting with Zelensky at Chequers was taking place in the buildup to a Council of Europe meeting in Iceland and also a G7 summit in Japan. He lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin.</p>

<p>"The front lines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world," Sunak said, vowing: "We must not let them down."</p>

<p>Sunak hosted Zelensky in the same Chequers room used by Britain's World War II leader Winston Churchill to broadcast defiant speeches vowing victory over the Nazis.</p>

<p>"And the same way today, your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all," he told Zelensky.</p>

<p>Zelensky was dressed in his trademark fatigues and gave a bear hug to Sunak after he disembarked from a Royal Air Force Chinnok helicopter.</p>

<p>He said the crisis was a matter of "security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe".</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-stopping-over-france-and-germany-zelensky-lands-in-uk-for-more-weapons-592566">After stopping over in France and Germany, Zelensky lands in UK for more weapons, Sunak pledges aid</a></strong></p>

<p>The timing and focus of Ukraine's high-stakes counter-offensive are unclear, but Zelensky's tour of European capitals underscored the importance of securing Western heavy weapons and ammunition to press the fight.</p>

<p>France has offered a dozen more light tanks and armoured vehicles. Germany has said it was preparing a new military package worth 2.7 billion euros (USD 3 billion). This is Germany's biggest package yet for Ukraine.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p><em>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</em></p>

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (May 15) said that he was "very positive" about creating a "jet coalition" after his meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (May 15) said that he was "very positive" about creating a "jet coalition" after his meeting with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Zelensky arrived in UK on Monday and proceeded to meet Sunak at the latter's Chequers country estate outside of London. During his talks with Sunak, Zelensky won the promise of 'hundreds' more missiles and drones. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February last year, western countries including US have provided Kyiv with weapons and aid. The weapons include rocket launchers, ammunition, tanks and more. However, Ukraine has been asking for fighter jets and this is something the West has been dragging its feet on for fear of escalation. Sunak said that the UK was readying to open a flight school to train Ukrainian pilots. Watch | Zelensky meets Sunak: UK promises Ukraine long range missiles and attack drones × And while Russia's ally China vies to act as peace broker, sending an envoy to Kyiv this week, Zelensky drummed up hefty new packages of military aid on weekend visits to France and Germany. Russia has reacted sharply to UK's fresh pledge of weapons to Ukraine and has warned that this would only cause "further destruction". Russia on Monday claimed to have downed a Storm Shadow missile which Britain had said last week that it was providing. Sunak said that his meeting with Zelensky at Chequers was taking place in the buildup to a Council of Europe meeting in Iceland and also a G7 summit in Japan. He lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The front lines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the fault lines stretch all over the world," Sunak said, vowing: "We must not let them down." Sunak hosted Zelensky in the same Chequers room used by Britain's World War II leader Winston Churchill to broadcast defiant speeches vowing victory over the Nazis. "And the same way today, your leadership, your country's bravery and fortitude are an inspiration to us all," he told Zelensky. Zelensky was dressed in his trademark fatigues and gave a bear hug to Sunak after he disembarked from a Royal Air Force Chinnok helicopter. He said the crisis was a matter of "security not only for Ukraine, it is important for all of Europe". Also Read | After stopping over in France and Germany, Zelensky lands in UK for more weapons, Sunak pledges aid The timing and focus of Ukraine's high-stakes counter-offensive are unclear, but Zelensky's tour of European capitals underscored the importance of securing Western heavy weapons and ammunition to press the fight. France has offered a dozen more light tanks and armoured vehicles. Germany has said it was preparing a new military package worth 2.7 billion euros (USD 3 billion). This is Germany's biggest package yet for Ukraine. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Ukraine President Zelensky eyes 'jets coalition' during meeting with UK PM Sunak

<p>Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in the UK on Monday (May 15) in a ‘surprise visit’ to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for “substantive negotiations” to secure more military support for his country’s war effort against Russia.</p>

<p>The UK said that it would supply long-range missiles that Ukraine requested to fight the Russian invasion.</p>

<p>"The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations," Zelensky said on Twitter hours before landing in London.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Today – London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations.</p>
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1657990871541751819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZelenskyyUa</a> arrives in the UK for discussions with Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/RishiSunak?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishiSunak</a> on Ukraine’s ongoing military resistance to Putin’s brutal invasion. <a href="https://t.co/Qh2tfpFDZE">pic.twitter.com/Qh2tfpFDZE</a></p>
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) <a href="https://twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1658037524353122305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>For the past few days, the Ukrainian leader&nbsp;has been meeting several Western leaders in order to jack up support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against the invading Russian forces.</p>

<p>A statement issued by No 10, Downing Street on Monday said Sunak would reiterate the importance of providing a full package of support to Ukraine during the talks at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, reports BBC.</p>

<p>"We must not let them [Ukraine] down," the prime minister said, adding it was "a crucial moment" in Ukraine's war effort.</p>

<p>"The front lines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the faultlines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded," it said.</p>

<p>The meeting with Sunak comes hours after Zelensky’s Paris visit, where he met President Emanuel Macron to discuss Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs.</p>

<h2><strong>France to provide advanced weaponry to Kyiv&nbsp;</strong></h2>

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<p>France agreed to provide dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles for Ukraine's army, together with training for the soldiers using them.</p>

<p>"In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," their joint statement stated.</p>

<p>Paris would also focus its efforts "in supporting Ukraine's air defence capacities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes".&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day before landing in Paris, Zelensky also had a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who promised €2.7billion ($2.9bn) worth of weapons.</p>

<p>It includes advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems to defend Ukraine from almost daily deadly Russian missile and drone attacks.</p>

<p>Zelensky described the new tranche as "the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression" by Russia in February 2022.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in the UK on Monday (May 15) in a ‘surprise visit’ to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for “substantive negotiations” to secure more military support for his country’s war effort against Russia.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky landed in the UK on Monday (May 15) in a ‘surprise visit’ to meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for “substantive negotiations” to secure more military support for his country’s war effort against Russia. The UK said that it would supply long-range missiles that Ukraine requested to fight the Russian invasion. "The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations," Zelensky said on Twitter hours before landing in London. Today – London. The UK is a leader when it comes to expanding our capabilities on the ground and in the air. This cooperation will continue today. I will meet my friend Rishi. We will conduct substantive negotiations face-to-face and in delegations. — Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 15, 2023 × President @ZelenskyyUa arrives in the UK for discussions with Prime Minister @RishiSunak on Ukraine’s ongoing military resistance to Putin’s brutal invasion. pic.twitter.com/Qh2tfpFDZE — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) May 15, 2023 × For the past few days, the Ukrainian leader has been meeting several Western leaders in order to jack up support as his country gears up for a counteroffensive against the invading Russian forces. A statement issued by No 10, Downing Street on Monday said Sunak would reiterate the importance of providing a full package of support to Ukraine during the talks at Chequers, the prime minister's official country residence, reports BBC. "We must not let them [Ukraine] down," the prime minister said, adding it was "a crucial moment" in Ukraine's war effort. "The front lines of Putin's war of aggression may be in Ukraine but the faultlines stretch all over the world. It is in all our interest to ensure Ukraine succeeds and Putin's barbarism is not rewarded," it said. The meeting with Sunak comes hours after Zelensky’s Paris visit, where he met President Emanuel Macron to discuss Ukraine's military and humanitarian needs. France to provide advanced weaponry to Kyiv France agreed to provide dozens more light tanks and armoured vehicles for Ukraine's army, together with training for the soldiers using them. "In the coming weeks, France will train and equip several battalions with tens of armoured vehicles and light tanks including AMX-10RC," their joint statement stated. Paris would also focus its efforts "in supporting Ukraine's air defence capacities in order to defend its population against Russian strikes". A day before landing in Paris, Zelensky also had a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who promised €2.7billion ($2.9bn) worth of weapons. It includes advanced German Leopard tanks and more anti-aircraft systems to defend Ukraine from almost daily deadly Russian missile and drone attacks. Zelensky described the new tranche as "the largest since the beginning of the full-scale aggression" by Russia in February 2022. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

After stopping over in France and Germany, Zelensky lands in UK for more weapons, Sunak pledges aid

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the United Kingdom to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. On Thursday, the United Kingdom confirmed that it will provide Ukraine with the long-range missiles it had asked to combat the Russian invasion.

Zelensky's diplomatic tour: Ukraine President meets UK PM Rishi Sunak, on EU outreach blitz

After the Conservatives lost around 1000 seats in the local elections, UK's Labour party has become more confident than ever about returning to power in 2024. Labour leader Keir Starmer says the local election result was a clear rejection of PM Rishi Sunak. Vikram Chandra tells you.

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3 years after UK left the EU, many Britons are already regretting Brexit. Inflation has hit a 40-year-high, many Britons are being forced to shoplift in order to cope with the cost-of-living crisis. Analysts say Brexit has exposed the fault lines in UK's economy. Listen in to Vikram Chandra.

UK's economy expected to be the worst performer in G20 | This World

<p>British Prime Minister <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-rishi-sunak-under-stress-following-tory-failures-leadership-concerns-589588">Rishi Sunak is losing control</a></strong> of an "increasingly anarchic" Tory party as former ministers openly criticised the direction of policy under his leadership, according to a report in The Guardian. Amid the recriminations over the heavy losses faced by the Conservative party in the recent local council elections, and with pro-Brexit MPs incensed that the government is dropping plans to shred over 4,000 European Union (EU) laws within months, discipline was at risk of completely disintegrating on the right of the party, the report claimed.</p>

<p>On Saturday, former UK home secretary Priti Patel said that the Conservative Party high command under Prime Minister Sunak was responsible for the losses&nbsp;in the election. Addressing the inaugural conference of the pro-Boris Johnson Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) in Bournemouth, Patel said the party leadership needed a moment of reflection after the results.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rishi-sunak-faces-flak-for-using-vip-helicopter-trip-for-short-distance-591347">Rishi Sunak faces flak for taking VIP helicopter trip for short distance</a></strong></p>

<p>Patel also praised former prime minister Boris Johnson for delivering on people's priorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>During the conference, Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary, said that the party underwent an “astonishing political tumble” since Johnson secured an 80-strong majority in 2019 and was “going backwards”.</p>

<p>"We are drifting and people know that. They can sense it and they can smell it. We no longer have that inspirational leader and those visionary policies. What happened to levelling up? It’s been all but dumped … a U-turn on the promised bonfire of EU regulation, which in itself demonstrates a paucity of ambition," Dorries said, The Guardian reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Though the former culture secretary did not call for Johnson to replace Sunak, she said, "The solution to most problems in politics are usually quite simple – you need the right leader, you need the right vision and you need to make people feel inspired. … I don’t think we’re there at the moment."</p>

<p>The criticism of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is focusing on last week's predicted reverse over the retained EU law bill, which will be the subject of further argument and controversy during its report stage in the Lords, with pro-EU Tory peers among those backing a series of amendments to limit the power of ministers to unilaterally scrap any laws.</p>

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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is losing control of an "increasingly anarchic" Tory party as former ministers openly criticised the direction of policy under his leadership, according to a report in The Guardian.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is losing control of an "increasingly anarchic" Tory party as former ministers openly criticised the direction of policy under his leadership, according to a report in The Guardian. Amid the recriminations over the heavy losses faced by the Conservative party in the recent local council elections, and with pro-Brexit MPs incensed that the government is dropping plans to shred over 4,000 European Union (EU) laws within months, discipline was at risk of completely disintegrating on the right of the party, the report claimed. On Saturday, former UK home secretary Priti Patel said that the Conservative Party high command under Prime Minister Sunak was responsible for the losses in the election. Addressing the inaugural conference of the pro-Boris Johnson Conservative Democratic Organisation (CDO) in Bournemouth, Patel said the party leadership needed a moment of reflection after the results. ALSO READ | Rishi Sunak faces flak for taking VIP helicopter trip for short distance Patel also praised former prime minister Boris Johnson for delivering on people's priorities. During the conference, Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary, said that the party underwent an “astonishing political tumble” since Johnson secured an 80-strong majority in 2019 and was “going backwards”. "We are drifting and people know that. They can sense it and they can smell it. We no longer have that inspirational leader and those visionary policies. What happened to levelling up? It’s been all but dumped … a U-turn on the promised bonfire of EU regulation, which in itself demonstrates a paucity of ambition," Dorries said, The Guardian reported. Though the former culture secretary did not call for Johnson to replace Sunak, she said, "The solution to most problems in politics are usually quite simple – you need the right leader, you need the right vision and you need to make people feel inspired. … I don’t think we’re there at the moment." The criticism of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is focusing on last week's predicted reverse over the retained EU law bill, which will be the subject of further argument and controversy during its report stage in the Lords, with pro-EU Tory peers among those backing a series of amendments to limit the power of ministers to unilaterally scrap any laws. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ex-UK ministers openly criticise direction of policy under PM Sunak's leadership: Report

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<p>British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday went live on LinkedIn to connect with over 200 CEOs and business leaders as part of a new programme "Business Connect", which aims to promote businesses&nbsp;in the United Kingdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Business Connect provides the next fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how we are growing the economy. We are bringing together some of the UK's biggest companies and investors for meaningful dialogue,” he said.</p>

<p>The British-Indian leader argued that the UK should be proud of its business credentials and pointed to the creation of 162 tech unicorns, smarter regulation and world-leading universities as the “right ingredients” to boost economic growth.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>A New Taskforce And A New Vision</strong></p>

<p>Sunak announced the creation of a new task force called the Foundation Model Taskforce with initial funding of 100 million pounds, aimed at accelerating the country's capability in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Drawing inspiration from the success of the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, the Foundation Model Taskforce will focus on developing safe and reliable use of AI across the economy to ensure global competitiveness in this strategic technology.</p>

<p>“Harnessing the potential of AI provides enormous opportunities to grow our economy, create better-paid jobs, and build a better future through advances in healthcare and security. By investing in emerging technologies through our new expert taskforce, we can continue to lead the way in developing safe and trustworthy AI as part of shaping a more innovative UK economy,” Sunak said.</p>

<p>To foster innovations in the UK economy, Sunak also launched a new "innovation" category at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, to be hosted by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at Downing Street. This new award will recognize bright and innovative ideas that deliver new products and services, driving the economy forward.</p>

<p>Sunak's economic growth strategy includes ambitions for new trade agreements, including a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch reiterated the government's commitment to securing high-quality trade accords, slashing red tape, and eliminating market access restrictions to keep the UK competitive.&nbsp;</p>


British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday went live on LinkedIn to connect with over 200 CEOs and business leaders as part of a new programme "Business Connect", which aims to promote businesses in the United Kingdom.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Monday went live on LinkedIn to connect with over 200 CEOs and business leaders as part of a new programme "Business Connect", which aims to promote businesses in the United Kingdom. “Business Connect provides the next fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how we are growing the economy. We are bringing together some of the UK's biggest companies and investors for meaningful dialogue,” he said. The British-Indian leader argued that the UK should be proud of its business credentials and pointed to the creation of 162 tech unicorns, smarter regulation and world-leading universities as the “right ingredients” to boost economic growth. A New Taskforce And A New Vision Sunak announced the creation of a new task force called the Foundation Model Taskforce with initial funding of 100 million pounds, aimed at accelerating the country's capability in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI). Drawing inspiration from the success of the COVID-19 Vaccines Taskforce, the Foundation Model Taskforce will focus on developing safe and reliable use of AI across the economy to ensure global competitiveness in this strategic technology. “Harnessing the potential of AI provides enormous opportunities to grow our economy, create better-paid jobs, and build a better future through advances in healthcare and security. By investing in emerging technologies through our new expert taskforce, we can continue to lead the way in developing safe and trustworthy AI as part of shaping a more innovative UK economy,” Sunak said. To foster innovations in the UK economy, Sunak also launched a new "innovation" category at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, to be hosted by UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt at Downing Street. This new award will recognize bright and innovative ideas that deliver new products and services, driving the economy forward. Sunak's economic growth strategy includes ambitions for new trade agreements, including a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch reiterated the government's commitment to securing high-quality trade accords, slashing red tape, and eliminating market access restrictions to keep the UK competitive.

Rishi Sunak taps LinkedIn to boost UK businesses

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