United Kingdom

UK PM Johnson to hold talks with Biden this month - The Times

Sept 12 (Reuters) - UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will attempt to patch up Britain’s frayed relationship with U.S. President Joe Biden's administration at a White House meeting between the two leaders this month, The Times newspaper reported on Monday, citing sources on both sides.

Johnson is expected to hold talks with Biden during a four-day trip to the U.S. for the UN general assembly, which starts in New York on Sept. 21, the report said.

UK: Poor countries say lack of vaccines may exclude them from climate talks

LONDON, Sept 10 (Reuters) - The world's poorest countries asked for more help on Friday to meet vaccination and quarantine requirements and costs to ensure they can take part in next month's global climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

The talks aim to spur bigger commitments to start reducing manmade greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and keep the rise in the global average temperature since pre-industrial times to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), to stave off the worst effects of climate change.

UK: Queen’s London representative says royals back BLM movement

LONDON (AP) — Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family back the Black Lives Matter movement, one of her senior representatives said in a television interview to be broadcast Friday.

Philanthropist Kenneth Olisa, the first Black Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, told Channel 4 News that he had discussed the issue with members of the Royal Family since George Floyd died in police custody in the United States last year, sparking global protests over racial injustice.

Britain’s economic growth slowed more than expected in July

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s economic growth slowed more than expected in July as concern about the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19 overshadowed the government’s decision to end most social distancing rules.

The economy expanded 0.1% in the month, down from 1% in June. Economists had expected gross domestic product to increase by 0.5%, according to a survey conducted by Pantheon Macroeconomics.

Britain working on ways for poor countries to attend climate talks

LONDON, Sept 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Environmental groups have called for crucial UN climate talks set to be conducted in Glasgow this year to be postponed amid fears people from poorer countries will not be able to fully take part.

But the British government insists it is rolling out vaccines for foreign delegates and will fund quarantine hotels for those who would not be able to pay as part of efforts to ensure the COP26 conference in November can go ahead.

UK threatens to send migrant boats back to France

LONDON/PARIS, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Britain has approved plans to turn away boats illegally carrying migrants to its shores, deepening a rift with France over how to deal with a surge of people risking their lives by trying to cross the Channel in small dinghies.

Hundreds of small boats have attempted the journey from France to England this year, across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. The summer surge happens every year, but is now larger than normal as alternative routes have been shut down.

UK: EasyJet rejects bid approach as it seeks to raise more money

LONDON (AP) — British airline easyJet said Thursday it rejected an unsolicited takeover approach as it announced plans to raise another 1.2 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) from shareholders to shore up its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

In a statement, the company said its board had “unanimously” rejected the offer from an unnamed company, which according to widespread speculation in financial markets is thought to have come from rival Hungarian airline Wizz Air.

Wizz Air declined to comment on the speculation.

Afghan teen commits suicide in UK after fear of deportation

09 Sep 2021; MEMO: A teenager who arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied minor has committed suicide believing he might be deported back to Afghanistan after his eighteenth birthday.

The 19-year-old, who has not been named on request of his family members who fear for their safety back home, was found dead at home in Birmingham on 21 April.

A senior coroner for Birmingham and Solihull, Louise Hunt, concluded that he committed suicide.

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