A manhunt has been initiated for Daniel Abed Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier allegedly linked to terror-related offences, who managed to escape from HM Prison Wandsworth&nbsp;on Wednesday morning (September 6), media reports said. Khalife was awaiting trial for allegedly placing fake bombs at a military base. As per reports, it is understood that Khalife executed his escape by accessing the prison's kitchen and then strapping himself to the underside of a delivery van. This escape has triggered additional security measures and delays at UK airports.

<h2>Escape details&nbsp;</h2>

Khalife, who was working in the prison kitchen, reportedly made his escape at around 07:50 BST.

"Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots. He is of slim build, has short brown hair and is around 6ft 2 inches tall," Met police said in a statement.&nbsp;

Authorities are urging the public not to approach Khalife but to immediately call 999 if they spot him.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-uses-car-tyres-to-cover-military-aircraft-to-deter-ukrainian-drone-attacks-report-632902">Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report</a>

Met police said that Khalife has links to the Kingston area but it is believed he most likely remains in the London area at this time, although he may have traveled further afield.

Police have, however, extended their search to the UK border. Airports and ports have been directed to implement heightened security measures, leading to reported delays.&nbsp;Met Police spokesperson reportedly said, "An alert was issued by the Counter Terrorism Command earlier today in relation to Khalife through established operational briefing channels to relevant UK police and law enforcements agencies, including those at UK ports and borders."

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Following Khalife's escape, HMP Wandsworth was placed on lockdown, but restrictions have now been lifted as the search for the escaped suspect continues.

<h2>Allegations</h2>

Khalife had been in custody, awaiting trial on charges related to terrorism and Official Secrets Act violations. He allegedly left fake devices at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) Stafford with the intention of inducing fear of explosion. He also obtained personal information about soldiers, potentially useful for terrorism, from the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administration System in 2021. Following these actions, Khalife disappeared from MOD Stafford, leading to his arrest later in January.

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The last significant escape involving terrorism inmates occurred in 1994 when IRA prisoners escaped from Whitemoor prison.&nbsp;A January 2022 report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons highlighted a "serious security breach" resulting in an escape from HMP Wandsworth in 2019.

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A manhunt has been initiated for Daniel Abed Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier allegedly linked to terror-related offences, who managed to escape from HM Prison Wandsworth on Wednesday morning (September 6), media reports said.

A manhunt has been initiated for Daniel Abed Khalife, a 21-year-old former soldier allegedly linked to terror-related offences, who managed to escape from HM Prison Wandsworth on Wednesday morning (September 6), media reports said. Khalife was awaiting trial for allegedly placing fake bombs at a military base. As per reports, it is understood that Khalife executed his escape by accessing the prison's kitchen and then strapping himself to the underside of a delivery van. This escape has triggered additional security measures and delays at UK airports. Escape details Khalife, who was working in the prison kitchen, reportedly made his escape at around 07:50 BST. "Khalife was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, red and white chequered trousers and brown steel toe cap boots. He is of slim build, has short brown hair and is around 6ft 2 inches tall," Met police said in a statement. Authorities are urging the public not to approach Khalife but to immediately call 999 if they spot him. Also Read | Russia uses car tyres to cover military aircraft to deter Ukrainian drone attacks: Report Met police said that Khalife has links to the Kingston area but it is believed he most likely remains in the London area at this time, although he may have traveled further afield. Police have, however, extended their search to the UK border. Airports and ports have been directed to implement heightened security measures, leading to reported delays. Met Police spokesperson reportedly said, "An alert was issued by the Counter Terrorism Command earlier today in relation to Khalife through established operational briefing channels to relevant UK police and law enforcements agencies, including those at UK ports and borders." Also Read | 'Why won't he...': Musk questions Zuckerberg regarding cage fight Following Khalife's escape, HMP Wandsworth was placed on lockdown, but restrictions have now been lifted as the search for the escaped suspect continues. Allegations Khalife had been in custody, awaiting trial on charges related to terrorism and Official Secrets Act violations. He allegedly left fake devices at the Ministry of Defense (MOD) Stafford with the intention of inducing fear of explosion. He also obtained personal information about soldiers, potentially useful for terrorism, from the Ministry of Defence Joint Personnel Administration System in 2021. Following these actions, Khalife disappeared from MOD Stafford, leading to his arrest later in January. Watch | Kenya hosts maiden climate summit in Africa × The last significant escape involving terrorism inmates occurred in 1994 when IRA prisoners escaped from Whitemoor prison. A January 2022 report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons highlighted a "serious security breach" resulting in an escape from HMP Wandsworth in 2019. 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: Ex-soldier, awaiting trial for terrorism offences, escapes prison; manhunt on

More than one in eight UK bank branches that were open at the start of 2023 will have closed by December, with almost three-fifths of the network vanishing since 2015.

More than one in eight UK bank branches to close in 2023

American nukes might be returning to British soil after 15 long years and Russia is not happy about it. Russia has warned of an escalation if American nuclear weapons return to British soil. Now some recent reports have revealed a possibility of this happening. Take a look.

US nukes to return to UK? Evidence suggests process underway

Just days ahead of US President Joe Biden's India trip for the G20 Summit, first lady Jill Biden has tested positive for Covid-19. After this, Joe Biden has now tested negative for the Coronavirus for a second time in a span 24 hours.

UK crumbles under infrastructure crisis

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Temperatures in parts of the UK are expected to rise to 32 degrees Celsius this week as a delayed heatwave gets underway.

UK could see hottest day amid delayed September heatwave

Birmingham, the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with the country’s largest local authority, declared itself bankrupt, on Tuesday (September 5) after issuing a section 114 notice which indicates that it does not have enough resources to balance its books. However, the leader of the city’s council has insisted that vital services are safe.

<h2>‘Long-standing issues’</h2>

The opposition Labour-run council in central England has also blamed Conservative governments for years of underfunding as it scrambles to settle a 760 million pound (US$980 million) bill for equal pay claims.

In the meantime, Birmingham City Council has issued a Section 114 Notice under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, which essentially blocks all spending other than essential services that it is obligated to provide by law, including&nbsp;social care, waste collection and protecting the vulnerable.

The city council has also attributed their current predicament to “long-standing issues”, like installing a new IT system and one billion pounds (US$ 1.3 billion) worth of budget cuts over the past decade under successive Conservative governments.&nbsp;

“Like local authorities across the country, it is clear that Birmingham city council faces unprecedented financial challenges,” said the leader and the deputy leader of the Labour-run council John Cotton and Sharon Thompson, in a statement, as quoted by the Guardian.&nbsp;

It went on to list huge increases in adult social care demand, “dramatic reductions” in business rates income and “rampant inflation,” which created “a perfect storm” that the local government faces. &nbsp;

Cotton also said “tough and robust decisions” would be made amid fears that the budget cuts could affect the city’s roads, parks, and libraries. However, the Tory members on the council have blamed Labour’s mismanagement of public finances of the city which is home to over one million people.

During a council meeting, on Tuesday, Robert Alden, the leader of the Conservative opposition, accused the council of “lying to the people of Birmingham” and called their supposed claim of the city “facing a golden decade” under the Labour leadership “fools’ gold.”&nbsp;

<h2>A ‘concerning situation’: Downing Street 
&nbsp;</h2>

Meanwhile, Downing Street has called the situation “concerning” for residents. The government is doing its part and will provide an additional 5.1 billion pounds (US$ 6.4 billion) to councils in 2023-24, said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson, adding that it would also be a more than nine per cent increase for Birmingham city council.&nbsp;

He added that “clearly it’s for locally elected councils to manage their own budgets”, and that the government had expressed concern about “their governance arrangements”. Furthermore, the British government has also “requested assurances from the leader of the council about the best use of taxpayers’ money”.

But he did go on to acknowledge that Birmingham had a “particular issue” with equal pay settlements and that the ministers had “commissioned an independent governance review which will report in the coming weeks”.&nbsp;

Croydon Council in south London issued a Section 114 notice in November last year after more than 100 million pounds black hole in its budget. In December, Thurrock Council in Essex, east of London had also declared itself in financial distress.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Birmingham, the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with the country’s largest local authority, declared itself bankrupt, on Tuesday (September 5) after issuing a section 114 notice which indicates that it does not have enough resources to balance its books.

Birmingham, the second-largest city in the United Kingdom with the country’s largest local authority, declared itself bankrupt, on Tuesday (September 5) after issuing a section 114 notice which indicates that it does not have enough resources to balance its books. However, the leader of the city’s council has insisted that vital services are safe. ‘Long-standing issues’ The opposition Labour-run council in central England has also blamed Conservative governments for years of underfunding as it scrambles to settle a 760 million pound (US$980 million) bill for equal pay claims. In the meantime, Birmingham City Council has issued a Section 114 Notice under the Local Government Finance Act 1988, which essentially blocks all spending other than essential services that it is obligated to provide by law, including social care, waste collection and protecting the vulnerable. The city council has also attributed their current predicament to “long-standing issues”, like installing a new IT system and one billion pounds (US$ 1.3 billion) worth of budget cuts over the past decade under successive Conservative governments. “Like local authorities across the country, it is clear that Birmingham city council faces unprecedented financial challenges,” said the leader and the deputy leader of the Labour-run council John Cotton and Sharon Thompson, in a statement, as quoted by the Guardian. It went on to list huge increases in adult social care demand, “dramatic reductions” in business rates income and “rampant inflation,” which created “a perfect storm” that the local government faces. Cotton also said “tough and robust decisions” would be made amid fears that the budget cuts could affect the city’s roads, parks, and libraries. However, the Tory members on the council have blamed Labour’s mismanagement of public finances of the city which is home to over one million people. During a council meeting, on Tuesday, Robert Alden, the leader of the Conservative opposition, accused the council of “lying to the people of Birmingham” and called their supposed claim of the city “facing a golden decade” under the Labour leadership “fools’ gold.” A ‘concerning situation’: Downing Street Meanwhile, Downing Street has called the situation “concerning” for residents. The government is doing its part and will provide an additional 5.1 billion pounds (US$ 6.4 billion) to councils in 2023-24, said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson, adding that it would also be a more than nine per cent increase for Birmingham city council. He added that “clearly it’s for locally elected councils to manage their own budgets”, and that the government had expressed concern about “their governance arrangements”. Furthermore, the British government has also “requested assurances from the leader of the council about the best use of taxpayers’ money”. But he did go on to acknowledge that Birmingham had a “particular issue” with equal pay settlements and that the ministers had “commissioned an independent governance review which will report in the coming weeks”. Croydon Council in south London issued a Section 114 notice in November last year after more than 100 million pounds black hole in its budget. In December, Thurrock Council in Essex, east of London had also declared itself in financial distress. (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.

UK: Second-largest city Birmingham’s council declares itself bankrupt

The law makes production, possession, supply and importation of nitrous oxide for human consumption illegal. The change is part of a crackdown on anti-social behaviour, which Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce on Monday for England and Wales.

UK: Nitrous Oxide also known as 'laughing gas' to be made illegal | World News | WION

According to a BBC investigation, funding was withheld in 2010 for the reconstruction of at least 13 schools that used reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC). They had earned approval for reconstruction under a Labour plan, which the Conservative-led government eventually abandoned. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to face heavy criticism from Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer during the first prime minister's questions since the news broke during the summer recess on Wednesday in the Commons.

UK school buildings collapse row: Rebuilding plans for 13 schools scrapped in 2010

The UK is set to proscribe Russia's mercenary Wagner Group as a terrorist organization, according to British media reports.

UK to label Russia's Wagner a terrorist group: Report

A grieving mother in the UK is being asked by the authorities to remove a cartoon-themed memorial erected on the grave of her son who passed away in infancy. The reason? The memorial is not made of stone.

Leanne Thompson's five-month-old son Callum died in his sleep in 2010.

Last year she made a GBP 600&nbsp;headstone for his grave based on a kids' TV show In the Night Garden which had Callum's favourite character Iggle Piggle.

She has now been contacted by North East Lincolnshire Council and has been asked to remove the memorial. Thompson has been told that the memorial does not comply with British standards as it is made from acrylic resin and it may deteriorate. Thompson has been given till September 30 to remove the memorial.

“Out of all of the graves in that yard, they’ve picked out a baby’s grave. It does stand out because it’s bright, because that’s what I wanted for him," she said, as quoted by The Independent.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking. People have been saying that it’s nice but it is a bit too much, but that’s just because it’s colourful."

“It’s minimalistic – it’s only got a few things on it and that’s it. It’s not over the top with ornaments or anything.”

“He used to have a swinging chair and would sit in front of the telly and he would start kicking his little legs and arms about when he would see Iggle Piggle," said Thompson, explaining her son's love for the cartoon character.

Thompson, who is from Grimsby, said she had even contacted the council before making the memorial and had enquired of any possible trouble. She says she was told it was fine.

But now the council is insisting on the removal of the memorial since it is made of acrylic.

“I just can’t see the problem," she told the Independent.

“There’s been some wooden crosses that have been there for years and they have become brittle and snap and become sharp.

“They even put fences in the cemetery and there’s bits and nails hanging off.

“You can buy grave pots and vases that are plastic. You can even buy pots for flowers from funeral homes and they are made out of pot.

“All you have to do is pick it up and it will smash. Nothing lasts forever.”

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A grieving mother in the UK is being asked by the authorities to remove a cartoon-themed memorial erected on the grave of her son who passed away in infancy. The reason?

A grieving mother in the UK is being asked by the authorities to remove a cartoon-themed memorial erected on the grave of her son who passed away in infancy. The reason? The memorial is not made of stone. Leanne Thompson's five-month-old son Callum died in his sleep in 2010. Last year she made a GBP 600 headstone for his grave based on a kids' TV show In the Night Garden which had Callum's favourite character Iggle Piggle. She has now been contacted by North East Lincolnshire Council and has been asked to remove the memorial. Thompson has been told that the memorial does not comply with British standards as it is made from acrylic resin and it may deteriorate. Thompson has been given till September 30 to remove the memorial. “Out of all of the graves in that yard, they’ve picked out a baby’s grave. It does stand out because it’s bright, because that’s what I wanted for him," she said, as quoted by The Independent. “It’s absolutely heartbreaking. People have been saying that it’s nice but it is a bit too much, but that’s just because it’s colourful." “It’s minimalistic – it’s only got a few things on it and that’s it. It’s not over the top with ornaments or anything.” “He used to have a swinging chair and would sit in front of the telly and he would start kicking his little legs and arms about when he would see Iggle Piggle," said Thompson, explaining her son's love for the cartoon character. Thompson, who is from Grimsby, said she had even contacted the council before making the memorial and had enquired of any possible trouble. She says she was told it was fine. But now the council is insisting on the removal of the memorial since it is made of acrylic. “I just can’t see the problem," she told the Independent. “There’s been some wooden crosses that have been there for years and they have become brittle and snap and become sharp. “They even put fences in the cemetery and there’s bits and nails hanging off. “You can buy grave pots and vases that are plastic. You can even buy pots for flowers from funeral homes and they are made out of pot. “All you have to do is pick it up and it will smash. Nothing lasts forever.” 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: Grieving mother told to remove memorial from infant son's grave

Harish Salve, a prominent lawyer and former solicitor general of India got married for the third time in an affluent ceremony in London, United Kingdom, according to media reports. The wedding witnessed the attendance of several well-known people including Lalit Modi, Ujjwala Raut, and others.

<h2>Harish Salve’s third wedding</h2>

The 68-year-old lawyer married&nbsp;his girlfriend Trina and&nbsp;images and videos of the two have since gone viral on social media.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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Former Solicitor general of India, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarishSalve?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarishSalve</a> got married for the 3rd time. Nita Ambani, Lalit Modi amongst others attended the ceremony. 
 
Hopefully he is lucky the third time. <a href="https://t.co/RVSPXyTujC">pic.twitter.com/RVSPXyTujC</a>
— Kumar Mihir Mishra (@Mihirlawyer) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mihirlawyer/status/1698536665130901559?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2023</a></blockquote>
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He was earlier married to Meenakshi (his first wife) and Caroline Brossard later in 2020. Salve and his first wife reportedly called it quits&nbsp;in June 2020 after more than 30 years of marriage.&nbsp;

Lalit Modi, the former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, who amid scandals and controversies linked to IPL, had relocated to London from India in 2010, said that he would return to India as soon as the nation passes stringent libel laws.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-in-trouble-again-ipl-founder-lalit-modi-says-will-drag-him-to-court-for-defamatory-remarks-577473">Rahul Gandhi in trouble again? IPL founder Lalit Modi says will drag him to court for defamatory remarks</a>

Earlier this year, the former IPL chairman&nbsp;was also directed to issue an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lalit-modi-tenders-apology-for-his-remarks-against-judiciary-583843">unconditional apology</a> for his remarks against the judiciary on social media and national newspapers by the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

<h2>About Salve</h2>

As a Supreme Court lawyer, Salve has been a part of several high-profile cases. However, one of his most popular cases is that of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying.&nbsp;

Salve was India’s lead counsel before the International Court of Justice in the Jadhav extradition case and charged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/sushma-swaraj-asked-harish-salve-to-collect-rs-1-fee-minutes-before-she-suffered-cardiac-arrest-241332">only Rupee&nbsp;1</a>, a gesture which earned him high praise.&nbsp;During the trial at the ICJ, Salve asserted that Pakistan had "extracted confession" from Jadhav on spying in Pakistan.&nbsp;

In 2020, he was also appointed as the Queen’s Counsel (QC) for the courts of Wales and England, a title which is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-made-pakistan-adhere-to-the-vienna-convention-says-indias-lawyer-harish-salve-after-kulbhushan-jadhav-verdict-at-icj-236738">We made Pakistan adhere to the Vienna Convention, says India's lawyer Harish Salve after Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict at ICJ</a>

He also represented the Union government, in 2018, at the Supreme Court over the Cauvery water dispute. In 2015, Salve was conferred one of the highest awards in India – the Padma Bhushan.&nbsp;

Salve also reportedly represented Bollywood celebrity Salman Khan&nbsp;in a hit-and-run case back in 2002. Khan was later acquitted on all charges after a Bombay High Court decision, 13 years later.&nbsp;

Salve, who studied LLB from Nagpur University, served as the Solicitor General of India from November 1999 to November 2002.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Harish Salve, a prominent lawyer and former solicitor general of India got married for the third time in an affluent ceremony in London, United Kingdom, according to media reports.

Harish Salve, a prominent lawyer and former solicitor general of India got married for the third time in an affluent ceremony in London, United Kingdom, according to media reports. The wedding witnessed the attendance of several well-known people including Lalit Modi, Ujjwala Raut, and others. Harish Salve’s third wedding The 68-year-old lawyer married his girlfriend Trina and images and videos of the two have since gone viral on social media. Former Solicitor general of India, #HarishSalve got married for the 3rd time. Nita Ambani, Lalit Modi amongst others attended the ceremony. Hopefully he is lucky the third time. pic.twitter.com/RVSPXyTujC — Kumar Mihir Mishra (@Mihirlawyer) September 4, 2023 × He was earlier married to Meenakshi (his first wife) and Caroline Brossard later in 2020. Salve and his first wife reportedly called it quits in June 2020 after more than 30 years of marriage. Lalit Modi, the former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman, who amid scandals and controversies linked to IPL, had relocated to London from India in 2010, said that he would return to India as soon as the nation passes stringent libel laws. ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi in trouble again? IPL founder Lalit Modi says will drag him to court for defamatory remarks Earlier this year, the former IPL chairman was also directed to issue an unconditional apology for his remarks against the judiciary on social media and national newspapers by the Supreme Court. About Salve As a Supreme Court lawyer, Salve has been a part of several high-profile cases. However, one of his most popular cases is that of Kulbhushan Jadhav, who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of spying. Salve was India’s lead counsel before the International Court of Justice in the Jadhav extradition case and charged only Rupee 1, a gesture which earned him high praise. During the trial at the ICJ, Salve asserted that Pakistan had "extracted confession" from Jadhav on spying in Pakistan. In 2020, he was also appointed as the Queen’s Counsel (QC) for the courts of Wales and England, a title which is awarded to those who have demonstrated particular skill and expertise in the conduct of advocacy. ALSO READ | We made Pakistan adhere to the Vienna Convention, says India's lawyer Harish Salve after Kulbhushan Jadhav verdict at ICJ He also represented the Union government, in 2018, at the Supreme Court over the Cauvery water dispute. In 2015, Salve was conferred one of the highest awards in India – the Padma Bhushan. Salve also reportedly represented Bollywood celebrity Salman Khan in a hit-and-run case back in 2002. Khan was later acquitted on all charges after a Bombay High Court decision, 13 years later. Salve, who studied LLB from Nagpur University, served as the Solicitor General of India from November 1999 to November 2002. (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.

Harish Salve marries for the third time in London, Lalit Modi among attendees

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will only secure a trade agreement with India that serves the best interests of the entire United Kingdom, media reports said quoting his spokesperson. Sunak made this statement to his ministers before heading to the G20 summit scheduled to take place in India this week. "He said negotiations around a free trade deal were progressing and that he would only agree an approach which worked for the whole UK," his spokesperson reportedly said.&nbsp;

<h2>UK-India free trade deal faces uncertainty</h2>

Despite previous assurances from successive governments regarding an FTA between the UK and India by October last year, progress remains elusive. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has now ruled out a swift trade deal with India ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi. Some officials even believe that the negotiations may extend beyond the upcoming general elections.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/west-bank-israeli-forces-kill-islamic-jihad-gunman-wound-palestinian-632569">West Bank: Israeli forces kill Islamic Jihad gunman, wound Palestinian</a>

“There was talk last year of a deal by last Diwali, but that was only going to happen if it was a shallow deal based around a limited number of goods. Kemi Badenoch [the trade secretary] and Rishi Sunak have decided they don’t want to go down that route and so have taken a deadline off the table,” The Guardian reported citing a government source.

“India wants to do an early agreement on goods, but the risk is that instead of being the start of a wider trade agreement, that becomes the endpoint and the UK doesn’t get any of the more fundamental things it wants,” said another top source in the UK government.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-largest-ever-wildfires-greece-witnesses-heavy-rains-and-flooding-one-dead-632590">After ‘largest ever’ wildfires, Greece witnesses heavy rains and flooding; one dead</a>

While there have been indications of agreements in specific areas, such as India's willingness to reduce tariffs on scotch whisky in exchange for tax incentives for Indian workers in the UK, precise figures have not been finalised.

Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine says Russian drone hit NATO member Romania

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Britain has embarked on a search for diversified global trade relationships after its 2020 exit from the European Union. It comes at a crucial time for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to solidify New Delhi's business-friendly image ahead of national elections early next year.

Bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom rose 16.6 percent&nbsp;year on year to $20.42 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year ending in March.

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UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will only secure a trade agreement with India that serves the best interests of the entire United Kingdom, media reports said quoting his spokesperson.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he will only secure a trade agreement with India that serves the best interests of the entire United Kingdom, media reports said quoting his spokesperson. Sunak made this statement to his ministers before heading to the G20 summit scheduled to take place in India this week. "He said negotiations around a free trade deal were progressing and that he would only agree an approach which worked for the whole UK," his spokesperson reportedly said. UK-India free trade deal faces uncertainty Despite previous assurances from successive governments regarding an FTA between the UK and India by October last year, progress remains elusive. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has now ruled out a swift trade deal with India ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi. Some officials even believe that the negotiations may extend beyond the upcoming general elections. Also Read | West Bank: Israeli forces kill Islamic Jihad gunman, wound Palestinian “There was talk last year of a deal by last Diwali, but that was only going to happen if it was a shallow deal based around a limited number of goods. Kemi Badenoch [the trade secretary] and Rishi Sunak have decided they don’t want to go down that route and so have taken a deadline off the table,” The Guardian reported citing a government source. “India wants to do an early agreement on goods, but the risk is that instead of being the start of a wider trade agreement, that becomes the endpoint and the UK doesn’t get any of the more fundamental things it wants,” said another top source in the UK government. Also Read | After ‘largest ever’ wildfires, Greece witnesses heavy rains and flooding; one dead While there have been indications of agreements in specific areas, such as India's willingness to reduce tariffs on scotch whisky in exchange for tax incentives for Indian workers in the UK, precise figures have not been finalised. Watch | Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine says Russian drone hit NATO member Romania × Britain has embarked on a search for diversified global trade relationships after its 2020 exit from the European Union. It comes at a crucial time for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who wants to solidify New Delhi's business-friendly image ahead of national elections early next year. Bilateral trade between India and the United Kingdom rose 16.6 percent year on year to $20.42 billion in the 2022-23 fiscal year ending in March. 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. ×

Sunak insists on free trade deal with India which works for all of UK

Former Department for Education (DfE) officials claimed that staff members were astonished when Sunak's Treasury reduced a request to support work on 300 to 400 schools at risk from collapsing concrete panels to 100 and subsequently 50 in 2020 and 2021.

UK: Pressure mounts on Sunak and Keegan over school concrete crisis

The row over school buildings in the UK is escalating. The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak is under pressure with some accusing him of ignoring the repairs when Sunak was serving as the UK Chancellor. According to some former officials at the Department of Education in 2020 and 2021 a request to fund the work of more than 300 schools was slashed down to below the 100 Mark and the decision was taken by Sunak's treasury officials.

UK PM Rishi Sunak accused of cutting back repair efforts

Leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party Keir Starmer reshuffled his top team on Monday (September 4) as the national elections loom&nbsp;next year. Starmer appointed his deputy Angela Rayner as Labour Party's levelling-up police chief.

Rayner is a popular lawmaker among the party members. She is set to take the higher profile role that will 'shadow' the government's policies in order to level up or address regional inequality in the country.

Rayner will shadow veteran Conservative Michael Gove as well as Oliver Dowden, deputy of UK PM Rishi Sunak.

Lisa Nandy, who was the Labour Party's levelling up policy chief, has been made the shadow minister for international development.

Watch | G20 Summit: UK-India trade deal in jeopardy

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"Keir is delighted that Angela has accepted this important role, in addition, she will continue to be the strategic lead on Labour's new deal for working people," a Labour source said, as quoted by Reuters.

Labour currently has a wide lead in the opinion polls ahead of next year's expected national election. However, the party is treading cautiously and being mindful that it needs to win back traditional supporters who voted for the Conservative Party in 2019.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson won a convincing victory for the party in 2019 by tapping anger among voters who traditionally supported Labour. His "levelling up agenda" had become one of his main priorities.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/uk-pm-sunak-sees-no-quick-fix-trade-deal-with-india-deadline-now-off-the-table-632089">UK PM Sunak sees no quick-fix trade deal with India, deadline now ‘off the table’: Report</a>

Rishi Sunak, Johnson's successor and current UK PM, has faced criticism for not adequately prioritising levelling up agenda. There has been a talk that he is too concerned about losing traditional Conservative voters in more affluent parts of southern England.

<h2>The reshuffle so far</h2>

Other than Angela Rayner, these Labour leaders have found themselves in the midst of a reshuffle.

Liz Kendall, who was previously a shadow health minister is now shadow work and pensions secretary

Jonathan Ashworth was the previous shadow work and pensions secretary. He is now shadow paymaster general in the cabinet office.

Thangam Debbonaire, the ex-shadow leader of the House of Commons, has now been made shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Debonaire has taken over from Lucy Powell in a straight job swap.

Steve Reed has been made shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs.

Hillary Benn has returned to the shadow cabinet as shadow Northern Ireland secretary.

Peter Kyle is now shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology.

Shabana Mahmood has become shadow secretary of state for justice.

Pat McFadden has been appointed shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and national campaign co-ordinator of the Labour Party.

Preet Gill Kaur has left the post of international development minister

Darren Jones is the new shadow chief secretary to the treasury. He has taken over from McFadden.

Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party Keir Starmer reshuffled his top team on Monday (September 4) as the national elections loom next year. Starmer appointed his deputy Angela Rayner as Labour Party's levelling-up police chief.

Leader of Britain's opposition Labour Party Keir Starmer reshuffled his top team on Monday (September 4) as the national elections loom next year. Starmer appointed his deputy Angela Rayner as Labour Party's levelling-up police chief. Rayner is a popular lawmaker among the party members. She is set to take the higher profile role that will 'shadow' the government's policies in order to level up or address regional inequality in the country. Rayner will shadow veteran Conservative Michael Gove as well as Oliver Dowden, deputy of UK PM Rishi Sunak. Lisa Nandy, who was the Labour Party's levelling up policy chief, has been made the shadow minister for international development. Watch | G20 Summit: UK-India trade deal in jeopardy × "Keir is delighted that Angela has accepted this important role, in addition, she will continue to be the strategic lead on Labour's new deal for working people," a Labour source said, as quoted by Reuters. Labour currently has a wide lead in the opinion polls ahead of next year's expected national election. However, the party is treading cautiously and being mindful that it needs to win back traditional supporters who voted for the Conservative Party in 2019. Former prime minister Boris Johnson won a convincing victory for the party in 2019 by tapping anger among voters who traditionally supported Labour. His "levelling up agenda" had become one of his main priorities. Also Read | UK PM Sunak sees no quick-fix trade deal with India, deadline now ‘off the table’: Report Rishi Sunak, Johnson's successor and current UK PM, has faced criticism for not adequately prioritising levelling up agenda. There has been a talk that he is too concerned about losing traditional Conservative voters in more affluent parts of southern England. The reshuffle so far Other than Angela Rayner, these Labour leaders have found themselves in the midst of a reshuffle. Liz Kendall, who was previously a shadow health minister is now shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Ashworth was the previous shadow work and pensions secretary. He is now shadow paymaster general in the cabinet office. Thangam Debbonaire, the ex-shadow leader of the House of Commons, has now been made shadow secretary of state for culture, media and sport. Debonaire has taken over from Lucy Powell in a straight job swap. Steve Reed has been made shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs. Hillary Benn has returned to the shadow cabinet as shadow Northern Ireland secretary. Peter Kyle is now shadow secretary of state for science, innovation and technology. Shabana Mahmood has become shadow secretary of state for justice. Pat McFadden has been appointed shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and national campaign co-ordinator of the Labour Party. Preet Gill Kaur has left the post of international development minister Darren Jones is the new shadow chief secretary to the treasury. He has taken over from McFadden. Nick Thomas-Symonds has been appointed shadow minister without portfolio in the cabinet office. (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: Opposition Labour Party reshuffles top team | See list

New data has revealed that more than one in five kids in England are frequently missing school as they are struggling to get back to their pre-pandemic schedule.&nbsp;

Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner said some children play truant while others experience anxiety or have educational needs so find it easier to stay at home. She urged parents to get their children back to school, BBC reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-suggests-brain-stimulation-enhances-mathematical-skills-631806">Study suggests brain stimulation enhances mathematical skills</a>

Department for Education (DfE) figures showed 22.3 per cent of children in England were persistently absent over the last academic year. A breakdown of figures further, shows that the problem is most marked among children on free school meals (37.9 per cent) and those with an education, health and care plan (33.4 per cent).

Before the pandemic, just one in every 10 students used to be absent.&nbsp;

The major absenteeism was on Fridays since the parents were at home.&nbsp;

Speaking to BBC, Dame said that in 1.8 million children, an estimated 100,000 were playing truant.&nbsp;

"We've got a real problem post-pandemic around attendance. 1.8 million of an eight million cohort is huge... that's double the number from before the pandemic." She said it is really important for children who are anxious to go back to school.&nbsp;

Following this, Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that she was very concerned about young people and their futures. She added that her party would deliver breakfast for every primary school child in England and improve mental health support for the children.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/there-were-once-only-1280-early-humans-left-to-breed-claim-chinese-scientists-631716">There were once only 1,280 early humans left to breed, claim Chinese scientists</a>

She also mentioned increasing truancy fines for parents who do not ensure their children attend school. Currently, parents pay a fine of &nbsp;£60 ($74.7)&nbsp; which will rise to &nbsp;£120 ($151) if they do not pay in 21 days.&nbsp;

A spokesperson for DfE said,&nbsp;"Attending school is vital for children's development and while it's encouraging that attendance is improving, there is more to be done for the year to come to ensure children are in regular education. We are prioritising driving up attendance rates, including for vulnerable children, building on existing attendance programmes including our attendance hubs and mentors, and updating our guidance to help directly support children, teachers and schools."

"We are also increasing high needs funding by a further £440 million ($555 million) for 24/25, bringing total funding to £10.5 billion ($ 13.2 billion)- an increase of over 60 per cent&nbsp;since 2019-20."

(With inputs from agencies)

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New data has revealed that more than one in five kids in England are frequently missing school as they are struggling to get back to their pre-pandemic schedule.

New data has revealed that more than one in five kids in England are frequently missing school as they are struggling to get back to their pre-pandemic schedule. Dame Rachel de Souza, the children's commissioner said some children play truant while others experience anxiety or have educational needs so find it easier to stay at home. She urged parents to get their children back to school, BBC reported. Also read | Study suggests brain stimulation enhances mathematical skills Department for Education (DfE) figures showed 22.3 per cent of children in England were persistently absent over the last academic year. A breakdown of figures further, shows that the problem is most marked among children on free school meals (37.9 per cent) and those with an education, health and care plan (33.4 per cent). Before the pandemic, just one in every 10 students used to be absent. The major absenteeism was on Fridays since the parents were at home. Speaking to BBC, Dame said that in 1.8 million children, an estimated 100,000 were playing truant. "We've got a real problem post-pandemic around attendance. 1.8 million of an eight million cohort is huge... that's double the number from before the pandemic." She said it is really important for children who are anxious to go back to school. Following this, Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said that she was very concerned about young people and their futures. She added that her party would deliver breakfast for every primary school child in England and improve mental health support for the children. Also read | There were once only 1,280 early humans left to breed, claim Chinese scientists She also mentioned increasing truancy fines for parents who do not ensure their children attend school. Currently, parents pay a fine of £60 ($74.7) which will rise to £120 ($151) if they do not pay in 21 days. A spokesperson for DfE said, "Attending school is vital for children's development and while it's encouraging that attendance is improving, there is more to be done for the year to come to ensure children are in regular education. We are prioritising driving up attendance rates, including for vulnerable children, building on existing attendance programmes including our attendance hubs and mentors, and updating our guidance to help directly support children, teachers and schools." "We are also increasing high needs funding by a further £440 million ($555 million) for 24/25, bringing total funding to £10.5 billion ($ 13.2 billion)- an increase of over 60 per cent since 2019-20." (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.

Data reveals one in every five children regularly skips school in the UK. Know why

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is expected to reshuffle his shadow cabinet on Monday.

Labour reshuffle: Sir Keir Starmer to shake up shadow cabinet

The G20 Summit today because all eyes will be on the crucial Summit this week. Several world leaders will gather and discuss key issues on the global economy but the meat in New Delhi is not only from its challenges it will be a test for New Delhi as a delegate game of diplomacy plays out well ahead of the summit the UK India trade deal seems to be in jeopardy.

G20 Summit 2023: Canada unexpectedly pauses trade talks with India

G20 Summit: UK-India trade deal in jeopardy

British Chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt is being accused of abandoning children affected by the concrete crisis in the UK. Well, this is because the government admitted the fact that there won't be any extra funding for for the education budget to cover the repair costs and the closures.

UK Government say no new cash to fix RAAC in schools

According to Sky News, the government of the United Kingdom is getting closer to agreeing to an assistance package with Tata Steel. The deal would give the Indian company's British operations about 630 million dollars in public cash.

UK approves $630 MN aid for Tata Steel

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, on Sunday (September 3) vowed to “spend what it takes” to deal with the crumbling school buildings and said that the United Kingdom government will move to fix the unsafe infrastructure quickly. This comes days after more than 100 schools across England were forced to shut down over safety concerns as they were found to be made with a certain type of concrete that is prone to collapse.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Extremely quickly’</h2>

In interviews with the British media, on Sunday morning, Hunt said that the majority of the 104 affected schools will be able to operate largely normally. “We will spend what it takes to sort out this problem as quickly as possible,” the British finance minister told BBC.&nbsp;

Last week, the UK government issued an order to around 104 schools or “settings” &nbsp;– out of the more than 20,000 schools in England – that require urgent action after they were said to have been made with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-over-100-schools-across-england-forced-to-shut-down-after-being-made-with-raac-concrete-heres-why-631297">Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC </a>and found to be at risk of collapse.

The announcement has left the institutes scrambling to make arrangements to continue teaching and angered parents as the order was issued days before the start of the autumn term, as per British media reports.&nbsp;

<h2>Fear&nbsp;of asbestos amid RAAC crisis</h2>

During the interviews on Sunday, Hunt also admitted that the government is also in the midst of responding to the longstanding asbestos problem in schools that is believed to be present in some of the same buildings affected by the RAAC concrete. This could further complicate the matter.&nbsp;

“We have 22,000 schools in the country and there has been since that incident a huge programme going through this Raac/asbestos issue because we want to be absolutely sure that every child is safe,” Hunt told Sky News after being asked if parents could be confident their child would be safe.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the concrete issue&nbsp;in UK about?</h2>

The UK government has also come under fire as they are yet to release the list of the schools affected while British Education Secretary Gillian Keegan previously said that the affected schools would contact parents directly and that “If you don’t hear, don’t worry.”&nbsp;

This has also prompted demands for transparency over the extent of the consequences of RAAC in public buildings over the weekend.&nbsp;

The RAAC is essentially a lightweight form of concrete which according to the UK government’s website was used to build roofs, schools, colleges and other buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1990s, but has since been found to be at risk of collapse.

It has also been described as “80 per cent air” and is said to have a lifespan of around 30 years. Shadow education secretary from the opposition Labour Party Bridget Phillipson took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “The government has spent the summer sitting on its hands as the concrete crumbles in our schools.” 
 
 
 
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British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, on Sunday (September 3) vowed to “spend what it takes” to deal with the crumbling school buildings and said that the United Kingdom government will move to fix the unsafe infrastructure quickly.

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, on Sunday (September 3) vowed to “spend what it takes” to deal with the crumbling school buildings and said that the United Kingdom government will move to fix the unsafe infrastructure quickly. This comes days after more than 100 schools across England were forced to shut down over safety concerns as they were found to be made with a certain type of concrete that is prone to collapse. ‘Extremely quickly’ In interviews with the British media, on Sunday morning, Hunt said that the majority of the 104 affected schools will be able to operate largely normally. “We will spend what it takes to sort out this problem as quickly as possible,” the British finance minister told BBC. Last week, the UK government issued an order to around 104 schools or “settings” – out of the more than 20,000 schools in England – that require urgent action after they were said to have been made with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC and found to be at risk of collapse. The announcement has left the institutes scrambling to make arrangements to continue teaching and angered parents as the order was issued days before the start of the autumn term, as per British media reports. Fear of asbestos amid RAAC crisis During the interviews on Sunday, Hunt also admitted that the government is also in the midst of responding to the longstanding asbestos problem in schools that is believed to be present in some of the same buildings affected by the RAAC concrete. This could further complicate the matter. “We have 22,000 schools in the country and there has been since that incident a huge programme going through this Raac/asbestos issue because we want to be absolutely sure that every child is safe,” Hunt told Sky News after being asked if parents could be confident their child would be safe. What is the concrete issue in UK about? The UK government has also come under fire as they are yet to release the list of the schools affected while British Education Secretary Gillian Keegan previously said that the affected schools would contact parents directly and that “If you don’t hear, don’t worry.” This has also prompted demands for transparency over the extent of the consequences of RAAC in public buildings over the weekend. The RAAC is essentially a lightweight form of concrete which according to the UK government’s website was used to build roofs, schools, colleges and other buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1990s, but has since been found to be at risk of collapse. It has also been described as “80 per cent air” and is said to have a lifespan of around 30 years. Shadow education secretary from the opposition Labour Party Bridget Phillipson took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “The government has spent the summer sitting on its hands as the concrete crumbles in our schools.” 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.

RAAC concrete crisis: UK govt vows to ‘spend what it takes’ to deal with crumbling school buildings

More than 100 schools across England have been told to shut down over safety concerns&nbsp;after being made with a certain type of concrete that is prone to collapse, reported the British media, on Friday (September 1).&nbsp;

The announcement has reportedly left the institutes scrambling to make arrangements to continue teaching as an order by the United Kingdom government was issued days before the start of the autumn term.&nbsp;

<h2>What did the UK government say?</h2>

The announcement was made by the UK Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, on Thursday (August 31) who said that the affected schools would contact parents directly and that “If you don't hear, don’t worry.”&nbsp;

However, she did not mention when the list of affected schools will be published, prompting criticism from the opposition Labour Party. Additionally, the teaching unions also slammed the government for the back-to-school chaos and called it “nothing short of a scandal”.&nbsp;

Keegan told reporters that as many as 156 school buildings have been identified as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC. Notably, there are more than 20,000 schools in England.

The education secretary said 104 schools or “settings” require urgent action while 52 have already received repair works. The Department for Education (DfE) has also noted that a vast majority of schools and colleges “will be unaffected”.&nbsp;

“We’re taking a very safety-first approach and we’re really being cautious here,” said the UK education secretary.&nbsp;

<h2>What is RAAC?</h2>

The RAAC is essentially a lightweight form of concrete which according to the UK government’s website was used to build roofs, schools, colleges and other buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1990s, but has since been found to be at risk of collapse.

It has also been described as “80 per cent air” and is said to have a lifespan of around 30 years. The UK government’s announcement also comes months after a report by the watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) noted the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse is “very likely”.&nbsp;

It also highlighted concerns for school buildings that still contained RAAC and identified 572 schools where this concrete might be present.&nbsp;

The DfE said it sent a questionnaire to schools in 2022 asking if they had any confirmed or suspected cases of RAAC in their buildings and sent DfE-commissioned engineers to check if the institutes provided a positive response.&nbsp;

The education department also said the British government has been aware of the use of RAAC in public sector buildings since 1994 but the issue came to light in 2018 when a roof collapsed at a Kent school.&nbsp;

<h2>UK government criticised</h2>

Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Labour has also not seen the full list of schools affected and urged ministers to “come clean with parents” about the full scale of the challenge before them.&nbsp;

She also said that the government is “failing” children by shutting the schools just before the new term started. “This is an absolutely staggering display of Tory incompetence as they start a fresh term by failing our children again,” said Phillipson.&nbsp;

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said that while the “news is shocking” it isn’t “hugely surprising”. 
 
“What we are seeing here are the very real consequences of a decade of swinging cuts to spending on school buildings,” said Whiteman, as quoted by Sky News.&nbsp;

The Local Government Association that they have been warning about the risk of RAAC since 2018. The timing of the announcement meant schools and councils had been left with “very little time to make urgent rearrangements and minimise disruption to classroom learning,” said Kevin Bentley, senior vice-chairman of the association.&nbsp;

<h2>What now?</h2>

The education secretary told reporters that the first thing to do is identify where the RAAC is used. “Some children will be moved to a different part of the building, some of the buildings will be propped up, so the roofs will be propped up, some of them will be having temporary classrooms,” said Keegan. &nbsp;

The DfE said the majority of the school sites would remain open for face-to-face learning and only specific parts of buildings will be closed where RAAC is used. According to media reports, some students have already been told they will be learning remotely, in temporary classrooms or at different schools.&nbsp;

One parent has told Sky they were warned that the “disruption will continue until 2025, or they may have to go to a new location altogether”.&nbsp;

<h2>Other buildings at risk</h2>

In an interview with Times Radio, the schools minister Nick Gibb also revealed that the British government is also in the midst of rebuilding seven hospitals due to issues related to RAAC.&nbsp;

“They use propping where they identify RAAC and also we are rebuilding seven hospitals because of extensive RAAC in those hospitals,” said Gibb.&nbsp;

British media reports have also reported that a number of public building,s including schools, hospitals and police stations, have been identified as being at risk because of RAAC.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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More than 100 schools across England have been told to shut down over safety concerns after being made with a certain type of concrete that is prone to collapse, reported the British media, on Friday (September 1).

More than 100 schools across England have been told to shut down over safety concerns after being made with a certain type of concrete that is prone to collapse, reported the British media, on Friday (September 1). The announcement has reportedly left the institutes scrambling to make arrangements to continue teaching as an order by the United Kingdom government was issued days before the start of the autumn term. What did the UK government say? The announcement was made by the UK Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, on Thursday (August 31) who said that the affected schools would contact parents directly and that “If you don't hear, don’t worry.” However, she did not mention when the list of affected schools will be published, prompting criticism from the opposition Labour Party. Additionally, the teaching unions also slammed the government for the back-to-school chaos and called it “nothing short of a scandal”. Keegan told reporters that as many as 156 school buildings have been identified as containing Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete or RAAC. Notably, there are more than 20,000 schools in England. The education secretary said 104 schools or “settings” require urgent action while 52 have already received repair works. The Department for Education (DfE) has also noted that a vast majority of schools and colleges “will be unaffected”. “We’re taking a very safety-first approach and we’re really being cautious here,” said the UK education secretary. What is RAAC? The RAAC is essentially a lightweight form of concrete which according to the UK government’s website was used to build roofs, schools, colleges and other buildings from the 1950s until the mid-1990s, but has since been found to be at risk of collapse. It has also been described as “80 per cent air” and is said to have a lifespan of around 30 years. The UK government’s announcement also comes months after a report by the watchdog National Audit Office (NAO) noted the risk of injury or death from a school building collapse is “very likely”. It also highlighted concerns for school buildings that still contained RAAC and identified 572 schools where this concrete might be present. The DfE said it sent a questionnaire to schools in 2022 asking if they had any confirmed or suspected cases of RAAC in their buildings and sent DfE-commissioned engineers to check if the institutes provided a positive response. The education department also said the British government has been aware of the use of RAAC in public sector buildings since 1994 but the issue came to light in 2018 when a roof collapsed at a Kent school. UK government criticised Shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the Labour has also not seen the full list of schools affected and urged ministers to “come clean with parents” about the full scale of the challenge before them. She also said that the government is “failing” children by shutting the schools just before the new term started. “This is an absolutely staggering display of Tory incompetence as they start a fresh term by failing our children again,” said Phillipson. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT said that while the “news is shocking” it isn’t “hugely surprising”. “What we are seeing here are the very real consequences of a decade of swinging cuts to spending on school buildings,” said Whiteman, as quoted by Sky News. The Local Government Association that they have been warning about the risk of RAAC since 2018. The timing of the announcement meant schools and councils had been left with “very little time to make urgent rearrangements and minimise disruption to classroom learning,” said Kevin Bentley, senior vice-chairman of the association. What now? The education secretary told reporters that the first thing to do is identify where the RAAC is used. “Some children will be moved to a different part of the building, some of the buildings will be propped up, so the roofs will be propped up, some of them will be having temporary classrooms,” said Keegan. The DfE said the majority of the school sites would remain open for face-to-face learning and only specific parts of buildings will be closed where RAAC is used. According to media reports, some students have already been told they will be learning remotely, in temporary classrooms or at different schools. One parent has told Sky they were warned that the “disruption will continue until 2025, or they may have to go to a new location altogether”. Other buildings at risk In an interview with Times Radio, the schools minister Nick Gibb also revealed that the British government is also in the midst of rebuilding seven hospitals due to issues related to RAAC. “They use propping where they identify RAAC and also we are rebuilding seven hospitals because of extensive RAAC in those hospitals,” said Gibb. British media reports have also reported that a number of public building,s including schools, hospitals and police stations, have been identified as being at risk because of RAAC. (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.

Explained | Over 100 schools across England made with RAAC concrete forced to shut down. Here’s why

A report by the Guardian, on Friday (September 1) said that the United Kingdom government has placed more than 100 lone asylum-seeker children in recent weeks. This comes months after the British High Court ruled that the government’s “routine” housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful.&nbsp;

<h2>Over 100 lone asylum-seeker children placed in hotels</h2>

The UK Home Office, in a recent court hearing, admitted that they placed at least 130 newly arrived lone asylum-seeker children in hotels, as of August 15 and that some of them had been there before July 27.&nbsp;

The UK High Court, earlier this year, ruled that the Kent county council and the Home Office’s “routine” use of accommodating children in hotels was unlawful. Last week, the court also determined that Kent county council’s approach to children has been unlawful.&nbsp;

The government’s continued use of hotels has also reportedly been condemned by human rights and refugee organisations since more than 200 children have gone missing, reported the Guardian.&nbsp;

More than 100 children are still missing from multiple hotels that the government had placed them leading charity Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) and Brighton and Hove city council to raise concerns about the large number of missing children, reported the Guardian.&nbsp;

“There is a serious possibility that a criminal offence is being committed by hotel owners contracted by the secretary of state to manage what are de facto unregistered children’s homes,” said Brighton and Hove city council, in its arguments submitted to the court.&nbsp;

The British media report had earlier also noted that dozens of children had disappeared from one hotel in Brighton.

<h2>Rise in number of migrants</h2>

The Kent county council which given its geographical location receives a large number of asylum-seeking children who arrive at the Kent coast in small boats. In recent weeks, the council has admitted that it is struggling to meet its legal obligations to the UK as well as to the children.

The county officials said that they are looking after 661 asylum-seeker children along with 1,030 asylum-seeker care leavers.&nbsp;

“It is with deep regret that, due to ever escalating arrivals, Kent county council is once again in a position whereby it cannot meet both its statutory duties to accept all new unaccompanied child asylum-seeker arrivals, care for them safely and discharge all of its other duties towards vulnerable children and young people in Kent,” said Sue Chandler, cabinet member for children’s services at Kent county council, as quoted by the Guardian.&nbsp;

In July, the High Court ruled that children could be placed in hotels for “very short periods in true emergency situations” but not “systematically or routinely”. At the time, a Home Office spokeswoman had said they had “no option” but to temporarily use hotels.&nbsp;

They had also assured that they are working with the Kent county council as well as local authorities across the UK to “ensure unaccompanied children are provided with the crucial care placements they need.”

The UK high court is also in the midst of presiding over&nbsp;a case calling&nbsp;for this group of children to be protected with the next hearing&nbsp;scheduled for&nbsp;September 15.&nbsp;

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A report by the Guardian, on Friday (September 1) said that the United Kingdom government has placed more than 100 lone asylum-seeker children in recent weeks. This comes months after the British High Court ruled that the government’s “routine” housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful.

A report by the Guardian, on Friday (September 1) said that the United Kingdom government has placed more than 100 lone asylum-seeker children in recent weeks. This comes months after the British High Court ruled that the government’s “routine” housing of unaccompanied child asylum seekers in hotels is unlawful. Over 100 lone asylum-seeker children placed in hotels The UK Home Office, in a recent court hearing, admitted that they placed at least 130 newly arrived lone asylum-seeker children in hotels, as of August 15 and that some of them had been there before July 27. The UK High Court, earlier this year, ruled that the Kent county council and the Home Office’s “routine” use of accommodating children in hotels was unlawful. Last week, the court also determined that Kent county council’s approach to children has been unlawful. The government’s continued use of hotels has also reportedly been condemned by human rights and refugee organisations since more than 200 children have gone missing, reported the Guardian. More than 100 children are still missing from multiple hotels that the government had placed them leading charity Every Child Protected Against Trafficking (ECPAT) and Brighton and Hove city council to raise concerns about the large number of missing children, reported the Guardian. “There is a serious possibility that a criminal offence is being committed by hotel owners contracted by the secretary of state to manage what are de facto unregistered children’s homes,” said Brighton and Hove city council, in its arguments submitted to the court. The British media report had earlier also noted that dozens of children had disappeared from one hotel in Brighton. Rise in number of migrants The Kent county council which given its geographical location receives a large number of asylum-seeking children who arrive at the Kent coast in small boats. In recent weeks, the council has admitted that it is struggling to meet its legal obligations to the UK as well as to the children. The county officials said that they are looking after 661 asylum-seeker children along with 1,030 asylum-seeker care leavers. “It is with deep regret that, due to ever escalating arrivals, Kent county council is once again in a position whereby it cannot meet both its statutory duties to accept all new unaccompanied child asylum-seeker arrivals, care for them safely and discharge all of its other duties towards vulnerable children and young people in Kent,” said Sue Chandler, cabinet member for children’s services at Kent county council, as quoted by the Guardian. In July, the High Court ruled that children could be placed in hotels for “very short periods in true emergency situations” but not “systematically or routinely”. At the time, a Home Office spokeswoman had said they had “no option” but to temporarily use hotels. They had also assured that they are working with the Kent county council as well as local authorities across the UK to “ensure unaccompanied children are provided with the crucial care placements they need.” The UK high court is also in the midst of presiding over a case calling for this group of children to be protected with the next hearing scheduled for September 15. 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 Home Office places more than 100 asylum-seeker children in hotels, defies high court ruling: Report

In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. As anticipation builds, the international community eagerly awaits confirmation from leaders, understanding that attendance dynamics are shaped by geopolitics and domestic priorities.

Delving into the annals of G20 Summit history reveals a remarkable consistency – since 2010, there hasn’t been a single instance where all member countries attended at the head of state/head of government (HOS/HOG) or leaders level. This pattern underscores the complexity of factors influencing leaders’ decisions to attend these pivotal gatherings.

The variability in attendance becomes even more striking when examining specific instances of countries being represented below the leadership level. On six occasions, a single leader from a country was absent (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), while on five occasions, two leaders chose not to attend (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g20-summit-biden-xi-erdogan-among-25-world-leaders-to-be-present-at-delhi-high-table-630030">G20 Summit: Biden, Xi, Erdogan among 25+ world leaders to be present at Delhi high table</a>

The 2021 Rome Summit stands out as an anomaly, with a record-breaking six leaders skipping the G20 meeting. This occurred even as the world was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when leaders faced critical domestic challenges.&nbsp;

In contrast, the 2022 Bali Summit saw three leaders absent, overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict. Notably, this summit marked the first time the traditional “leaders’ family photo” was absent, as Western leaders hesitated to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Examining individual country data reveals a spectrum of commitment to G20 Summit attendance. Nations such as Canada, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the European Union have consistently upheld leadership-level attendance, underscoring their dedication to the global stage.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-will-not-attend-g20-in-india-but-set-to-visit-china-for-belt-and-road-forum-630307">Putin will not attend G20 in India but set to visit China for Belt and Road forum</a>

In contrast, some nations have experienced sporadic attendance. Mexico, for instance, has been represented by a minister since 2018 instead of its president.&nbsp;

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Russia each have had two instances of lower-level representation, while China, France, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa have experienced a single such occurrence. A notable exception is Saudi Arabia, which attended G20 summits below the leadership level on nine occasions, including one instance featuring a Minister of State without portfolio in 2017.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t attended a G20 summit in person since the 2019 Osaka summit. He was notably absent from the Italy (2021) and Indonesia (2022) summits and is set to skip the upcoming India (2023) summit. Just like last year, Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Lavrov this year.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-hope-xi-jinping-attends-g20-summit-says-biden-631067">&nbsp;I hope Xi Jinping attends G20 Summit in New Delhi, says Biden</a>

The G20 Summit, elevated to the leaders’ level in 2008, has continued to evolve as a pivotal diplomatic forum. With two summits held in 2009 and 2010, the rotation, after India extends to Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the United States in 2026.&nbsp;

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In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time.

In just a week, the world’s attention will converge on New Delhi as the Indian capital plays host to its inaugural G20 Summit, an event that has drawn global leaders to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. As anticipation builds, the international community eagerly awaits confirmation from leaders, understanding that attendance dynamics are shaped by geopolitics and domestic priorities. Delving into the annals of G20 Summit history reveals a remarkable consistency – since 2010, there hasn’t been a single instance where all member countries attended at the head of state/head of government (HOS/HOG) or leaders level. This pattern underscores the complexity of factors influencing leaders’ decisions to attend these pivotal gatherings. The variability in attendance becomes even more striking when examining specific instances of countries being represented below the leadership level. On six occasions, a single leader from a country was absent (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017), while on five occasions, two leaders chose not to attend (2010, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019). ALSO READ | G20 Summit: Biden, Xi, Erdogan among 25+ world leaders to be present at Delhi high table The 2021 Rome Summit stands out as an anomaly, with a record-breaking six leaders skipping the G20 meeting. This occurred even as the world was recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when leaders faced critical domestic challenges. In contrast, the 2022 Bali Summit saw three leaders absent, overshadowed by the Ukraine conflict. Notably, this summit marked the first time the traditional “leaders’ family photo” was absent, as Western leaders hesitated to stand alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Examining individual country data reveals a spectrum of commitment to G20 Summit attendance. Nations such as Canada, Germany, India, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the European Union have consistently upheld leadership-level attendance, underscoring their dedication to the global stage. ALSO READ | Putin will not attend G20 in India but set to visit China for Belt and Road forum In contrast, some nations have experienced sporadic attendance. Mexico, for instance, has been represented by a minister since 2018 instead of its president. Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and Russia each have had two instances of lower-level representation, while China, France, Indonesia, Japan, and South Africa have experienced a single such occurrence. A notable exception is Saudi Arabia, which attended G20 summits below the leadership level on nine occasions, including one instance featuring a Minister of State without portfolio in 2017. Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t attended a G20 summit in person since the 2019 Osaka summit. He was notably absent from the Italy (2021) and Indonesia (2022) summits and is set to skip the upcoming India (2023) summit. Just like last year, Russia will be represented by Foreign Minister Lavrov this year. ALSO READ | I hope Xi Jinping attends G20 Summit in New Delhi, says Biden The G20 Summit, elevated to the leaders’ level in 2008, has continued to evolve as a pivotal diplomatic forum. With two summits held in 2009 and 2010, the rotation, after India extends to Brazil in 2024, South Africa in 2025, and the United States in 2026. 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.

G20 summit in Delhi: Trends show gaps in leaders’ attendance each year

United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman ordered an investigation, on Saturday (September 2) into police impartiality as she has accused officers of being “involved in political matters.” The move has been criticised and seen as a highly politicised one as her “anti-woke” rhetoric and hardline stances on immigration have infuriated opponents since she took office nearly a year ago.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the investigation about?&nbsp;</h2>

In a statement, the UK Home Office said that Braverman has commissioned Britain’s law enforcement watchdog to conduct a review into political “activism and impartiality” within the police and “explore impacts of police taking part in political matters”.&nbsp;

In a letter to the policing leaders, the UK home secretary has also said that the police should be focused on tackling crime, rather than being involved in political matters and that she will work with them to ensure that their forces’ time is spent on public’s priorities.

The home secretary has ordered a probe to look at whether operational policing in England and Wales is being influenced, said the UK Home Office. The policing model in England and Wales ensures that the police should, at all times, adopt a position of political neutrality, it added.&nbsp;

Braverman has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire &amp; Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to undertake the review and asked for the report findings by March 2024, said the home office, in a statement.&nbsp;

The HMICFRS review has also been asked to cover the “quality and neutrality” of police training and communications with the public on issues, including social media.

<h2>‘Political activism’ of UK police</h2>

Braverman has cited officers’ engagement in “contentious issues,” including policing gender-critical views on social media, their conduct at political marches and some taking a knee in public, which she says has “damaged” public confidence.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
“The British people expect their police to focus on cutting crime and protecting communities – political activism does not keep people safe, solve crimes or support victims, but can damage public confidence,” said Braverman, in a statement.&nbsp;

She added, “The review I’ve commissioned will explore whether the police getting involved in politically contentious matters is having a detrimental impact on policing.”&nbsp;

Notably,&nbsp;UK police forces have also been embroiled in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-cop-admits-to-71-sexual-offences-in-one-of-the-worst-serial-rape-crimes-553503">number of&nbsp;scandals</a> involving racism, sexism and corruption, particularly London's Metropolitan Police Service, which is also the country's largest.&nbsp;

<h2>Investigation sparks criticism</h2>

Labour party spokesperson told BBC that Braverman is commissioning a report “into her own political obsession” and was wasting her time.&nbsp;

“Instead of setting out serious practical policies to tackle Tory failures, all the home secretary is doing is commissioning reports into her own political obsessions &nbsp;– and while she’s doing this, more criminals are being let off and more victims are being let down,” said the Labour party, as quoted by the British media report. &nbsp;

Police Federation’s Deputy Chair Tiffany Lynch said that policing is “too important to be kicked around like a political football,” adding that while their members want to go out there and serve communities in the best way possible, it would require help if the government “constantly changes the goal posts,” as quoted by the BBC.&nbsp;

She added, “One minute they want police officers to be more involved, the next, they want them to act like robots.”

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
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United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman ordered an investigation, on Saturday (September 2) into police impartiality as she has accused officers of being “involved in political matters.

United Kingdom Home Secretary Suella Braverman ordered an investigation, on Saturday (September 2) into police impartiality as she has accused officers of being “involved in political matters.” The move has been criticised and seen as a highly politicised one as her “anti-woke” rhetoric and hardline stances on immigration have infuriated opponents since she took office nearly a year ago. What is the investigation about? In a statement, the UK Home Office said that Braverman has commissioned Britain’s law enforcement watchdog to conduct a review into political “activism and impartiality” within the police and “explore impacts of police taking part in political matters”. In a letter to the policing leaders, the UK home secretary has also said that the police should be focused on tackling crime, rather than being involved in political matters and that she will work with them to ensure that their forces’ time is spent on public’s priorities. The home secretary has ordered a probe to look at whether operational policing in England and Wales is being influenced, said the UK Home Office. The policing model in England and Wales ensures that the police should, at all times, adopt a position of political neutrality, it added. Braverman has commissioned His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) to undertake the review and asked for the report findings by March 2024, said the home office, in a statement. The HMICFRS review has also been asked to cover the “quality and neutrality” of police training and communications with the public on issues, including social media. ‘Political activism’ of UK police Braverman has cited officers’ engagement in “contentious issues,” including policing gender-critical views on social media, their conduct at political marches and some taking a knee in public, which she says has “damaged” public confidence. “The British people expect their police to focus on cutting crime and protecting communities – political activism does not keep people safe, solve crimes or support victims, but can damage public confidence,” said Braverman, in a statement. She added, “The review I’ve commissioned will explore whether the police getting involved in politically contentious matters is having a detrimental impact on policing.” Notably, UK police forces have also been embroiled in a number of scandals involving racism, sexism and corruption, particularly London's Metropolitan Police Service, which is also the country's largest. Investigation sparks criticism Labour party spokesperson told BBC that Braverman is commissioning a report “into her own political obsession” and was wasting her time. “Instead of setting out serious practical policies to tackle Tory failures, all the home secretary is doing is commissioning reports into her own political obsessions – and while she’s doing this, more criminals are being let off and more victims are being let down,” said the Labour party, as quoted by the British media report. Police Federation’s Deputy Chair Tiffany Lynch said that policing is “too important to be kicked around like a political football,” adding that while their members want to go out there and serve communities in the best way possible, it would require help if the government “constantly changes the goal posts,” as quoted by the BBC. She added, “One minute they want police officers to be more involved, the next, they want them to act like robots.” (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.

UK government orders probe into police’s ‘political activism and impartiality’

More than 150 British schools have been ordered to close numerous facilities on the eve of the start of a new term after they were judged unsafe, irritating parents and teachers and presenting further problems for the government.

Schools & colleges to shut over collapse fears in UK

An Indian-origin Conservative MP has been given a new role in the UK cabinet. The UK prime minister Rishi Sunak's ally Claire Coutinho reportedly has roots in Goa and Pune and she is now the UK's new energy and Net Zero secretary.

Britain's new Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho starts her cabinet job

For the first time in the history of the NHS, junior physicians and consultants in England will walk out on the same days in a dramatic escalation of their contentious wage dispute with the government. The British Medical Association attributed the decision to organize stoppages involving both categories of medical professionals to ministers' failure to bargain over doctors' salaries.

UK: Junior and senior doctors to strike together for the first time in NHS history

More than 150 British schools have been ordered to close numerous facilities on the eve of the start of a new term after they were judged unsafe, irritating parents and teachers and presenting further problems for the government. To know more watch this interview with author and senior journalist Andrew Whitehead.

UK: Schools and colleges to shut over collapse fears

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