London: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres this afternoon on the situation in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister described Putin’s actions in Ukraine as nauseating and blatant aggression, which is having devastating consequences for Ukraine’s people.

They discussed their shared concerns on attacks in areas besieged by Russian forces, such as Mariupol and Kherson, and the need to secure a ceasefire, facilitate humanitarian efforts and allow civilians to leave.

The Prime Minister made clear the importance of global solidarity with Ukraine, with the UK continuing to work closely with international partners to support Ukraine to defend itself.

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New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson on Friday agreed on a new and expanded India-UK defence alliance.

It was decided to finalize negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of this year. The two leaders reviewed all dimensions of bilateral relations, including the ‘Roadmap 2030’, and set an ambitious goal of further deepening the alliance in various areas.

Prime Minister Modi invited the UK to join India’s National Hydrogen Mission. After detailed discussions on the diverse dimensions of the relationship between the two leaders, the British Prime Minister said, “Today we have agreed on a new, expanded defence and security partnership,” adding that it is also in the direction of a decades-old commitment to deepening our ties as well as narendra modi’s goal of make in India.

Boris Johnson said that skilled workers from India could plug labour shortages in sectors such as information technology in the UK, even as he reiterated that immigration would continue to be controlled.

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London: The UK’s tax authority, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), has today announced its intention to revoke the Moscow Stock Exchange’s (MOEX) status as a recognised stock exchange.

This means investors will not be able to access certain UK tax benefits in future when trading securities on MOEX, although existing investments will be protected.

The move comes alongside the unprecedented sanctions the UK Government has placed upon Russia because of their illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Frazer, said, “As we continue to isolate Russia in response to their illegal war on Ukraine, revoking Moscow Stock Exchange’s recognised status sends a clear message – there is no case for new investments in Russia.”

Recognised stock exchange status is a classification given by HMRC for tax purposes, on application, to qualifying stock exchanges. Securities traded on a recognised stock exchange are eligible for certain tax treatments and reliefs.

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London: A fleet of NHS ambulances will provide urgent care for those injured by Russian attacks in Ukraine following a donation from the UK.

The donation of around 20 NHS ambulances will help bring vital lifesaving care to Ukrainians remaining in towns and cities under attack from Russian bombardments.

This donation will help replace those Ukrainian ambulances lost to Russian attacks, bolstering the existing fleet’s resilience as the barbaric war goes on.

It is estimated more than 12 million people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance across Ukraine.

The conflict has stretched Ukraine’s health services, with Russia’s indiscriminate attacks targeting civilian shelters and even hospitals.

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New Delhi: Foreign Secretary of United Kingdom visited India as part of diplomatic push on Ukraine on Thursday.

In a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Foreign Secretary said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine underlines the importance of democracies working closer together to deter aggressors, reduce vulnerability to coercion and strengthen global security.

External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar, held bilateral consultations with the visiting Minister and conducted the annual strategic review of the Roadmap 2030 agreed between the Prime Ministers during the India-UK Virtual Summit 2021. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved so far and agreed to further intensify efforts to deliver results in priority areas of trade and investments, defence and security, migration and mobility, education, S&T, climate cooperation and green energy.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, “Deeper ties between Britain and India will boost security in the Indo-Pacific and globally, and create jobs and opportunities in both countries.”

Interestingly, Foreign Secretary also visited the India on same day as Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov visited India in competing efforts to strengthen ties.

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London: The United Kingdom (UK) is going to further donate £286 million of emergency aid to the Afghanistan for life-saving food and emergency health support.

The aid has been announced ahead of the UN Afghanistan Conference on March 31, which will bring together international allies to raise vital funds for humanitarian aid, officials said.

The UN is seeking to raise more than $4 billion – its largest ever appeal for a single country. The UN estimates that around 10 million children across Afghanistan urgently need humanitarian assistance to survive.

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London:Millions of people across the country will be able to make greener, cleaner journeys as almost 1,000 green buses are rolled out with the backing of nearly £200 million in government funding.

Twelve areas in England, from Greater Manchester to Portsmouth, will receive grants from the multimillion-pound package to deliver electric or hydrogen powered buses, as well as charging or fuelling infrastructure, to their region.

The funding comes from the Zero Emission Buses Regional Area (ZEBRA) scheme, which was launched last year to allow local transport authorities to bid for funding to purchase zero emission buses.

Today’s (26 March 2022) £198.3 million of funding will provide 943 buses. It builds on almost: £71 million announced last year to support up to 335 new zero emission buses in 5 areas a further £50 million funding for the UK’s first All Electric Bus City, Coventry, supporting up to 300 buses 100 buses funded by previous funding schemes, said officials.

The first orders have already been placed. Hundreds more zero emission buses have been funded in London, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It means the government remains on track to deliver its commitment to fund a total of 4,000 zero-emission buses across the country – which the Prime Minister promised in 2020 to “drive forward the UK’s progress on its net zero ambitions” and to “build and rebuild those vital connections to every part of the UK, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said.

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London: Over two million items of medical supplies have been given to Ukraine by the UK to help the country cope with the medical emergency caused by the Russian invasion.

Items including vital medicines, wound packs, and intensive care equipment donated by NHS England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have been flown to the region on ten flights over the past three weeks, leaving from Stanstead and Heathrow Airports and RAF Brize Norton.

The some of the items include 3,000 adult resuscitators, Around 160,000 wound care packs, Over 300,000 sterile needles, Over 32,000 packs of bandages, 1,600 pieces of equipment for ventilators, Over 54,000 cannulas, 100,000 packs of medicines – around 800,000 doses – including antibiotics and painkillers besides 72,000 packs of gloves and 28,000 FFP3 masks.

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London: Prime Minister Boris Johnson led government sanctioned 386 members of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, for their support for the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. The new sanctions will ban those listed from travelling to the UK, accessing assets held within the UK and doing business here.

The Russian State Duma ratified treaties in February which recognised the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions – part of Ukrainian sovereign territory – and authorised the permanent presence of Russian military there, acting as a pretext for Russia’s invasion.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said, “We’re targeting those complicit in Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and those who support this barbaric war. We will not let up the pressure and will continue to tighten the screw on the Russian economy through sanctions.”

Since Russia’s invasion, the UK has sanctioned more than 500 of Russia’s most significant and high-value individuals, entities and subsidiaries, bringing the total now covered by the UK’s sanctions list to over 800. This includes travel bans and asset freezes applied to 18 of Russia’s leading oligarchs, with a combined worth in excess of £30 billion.

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Ottawa: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has arrived in London on Sunday night as he is on four-country Europe tour to consult with allies on Ukraine response.

Trudeau would meet with several allies to discuss responses to Russia’s attack and the humanitarian crisis. He will meet NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and visit the Latvian military base.

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly has already been in Europe for the past few days holding meetings with NATO and others over Ukraine crisis.

Meanwhile, Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development also traveling to Geneva to meet with UN and international partners to discuss the pandemic response and the humanitarian crises in Ukraine and Afghanistan.

Minister Sajjan will meet with UN and NGO partners on Monday, March 7, before traveling to Eastern Europe.

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