UK Prime Minister Boris | Business Upturn

UK PM deliberates over Afghanistan crisis, recalls parliament

Sneha Sengupta — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 17:27:16 +0000

Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson will conduct further crisis talks on the Afghanistan panic situation, his office said on Sunday, as he simultaneously recalls the parliament from its summer break.

A Downing Street spokesperson averred: Johnson had called a meeting of the COBR emergencies committee to discuss the situation, which follows the withdrawal of US-led forces, the second such meeting in three days.

Parliament on Sunday added that “It had approved Johnson’s request to call back MPs on Wednesday for an urgent debate on what Britain, which lost 457 troops in the two-decade-long war, should do next.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab asserted that: “He had talked to Pakistan counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, expressing his “deep concerns” and agreeing it was “critical” that the international community tell the Taliban that the violence must end and human rights are protected.” As per the latest, Taliban fighters were on the outskirts of Kabul on August 15, almost on the verge of an absolute military takeover of Afghanistan, this led the British politicians to hold a last-ditch intervention meet.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, requested Johnson to “think again” about stepping in. “We have an ever-shrinking window of opportunity to recognise where this country is going as a failed state,” he told to the Times Radio.

“Just because the Americans won’t, does not mean to say that we should be tied to the thinking, the political judgement — particularly when it is so wrong — of our closest security ally. “We could prevent this, otherwise history will judge us very, very harshly in not stepping in,” he further warned.

Ellwood added that “The government could deploy the Royal Navy’s HMS Queen Elizabeth carrier strike group to provide air support.”

He mentioned the crisis to be “the biggest single policy disaster since Suez”.

– ‘Deeply shocking’ –

Johnson vowed on Friday that Britain will not “turn our backs” on Afghanistan, even as he confirmed the imminent withdrawal of most embassy staff in the face of a rapid Taliban onslaught.

However, he averred that: those calling for an intervention “have got to be realistic about the power of the UK or any power to impose a military solution — a combat solution — in Afghanistan”. Johnson said the “vast bulk” of remaining embassy staff in Kabul would return to the UK.

The Foreign Office announced on Sunday that, “Britain had temporarily suspended most operations at its embassy in Kabul and was doing all we can to enable remaining British nationals, and those Afghans who have worked for us and who are eligible for relocation, to leave Afghanistan.”

Opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer endorsed the move to recall parliament, through an official statement: “The situation in Afghanistan is deeply shocking and seems to be worsening by the hour.”

“The government has been silent while Afghanistan collapses, which let’s be clear will have ramifications for us here in the UK. We need parliament recalled so the government can update MPs on how it plans to work with allies to avoid a humanitarian crisis and a return to the days of Afghanistan being a base for extremists.”

“Most of the remaining British troops assigned to the NATO mission in Afghanistan left last month”, said Johnson.

Boris Johnson advises Britons to find a way to live with the virus

Aryan Jakhar — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 14:43:20 +0000

Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, will reveal on Monday a strategy to ease coronavirus limitations on July 19, encouraging the public to “learn to live with” the virus.

He had hoped to reopen fully on June 21, but then was obliged to postpone the date due to the outbreak of the extremely contagious Delta strain. In the United Kingdom, such variation currently accounts for roughly all new COVID cases.

The prime minister will call a press conference, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid will speak to parliament on the matter.

Following Russia, the United Kingdom has the largest coronavirus mortality toll of any European nation, with over 128,000 deaths. A third shutdown is rapidly coming to an end, although other limitations persist.

Clubs and bars are not permitted to open, huge events are not held to capacity, and pub services is still limited.

The United Kingdom was one among the first countries to implement a vaccination campaign in December, and roughly 64% of the population aged has now got 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a statement prepared prior of his press appearance, Johnson was quoted as stating, “Today we will set out how we can restore people’s freedoms.”

The British Medical Association (BMA) encouraged the government to keep certain limitations in place over weekends, citing a “alarming” surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, which would be approaching 30,000 each day.

UK sends crucial medical supplies to India amid oxygen crisis; UK PM Boris Johnson vows to “stand side by side”

Shreejit Shelar — Sun, 25 Apr 2021 18:17:27 +0000

While India is reeling under the fury of the novel coronavirus, the United Kingdom is sending ventilators and oxygen concentrator devices to India to help the nation retain its grasp over the Covid-19 pandemic.

The British High Commission in a press statement said that the UK was dispatching “more than 600 pieces of vital medical equipment” to “ support the country in its fight against Covid-19.”

United Kingdom said it was sending more than 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India to help the country with a surge in #COVID19 cases. The first shipment due to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday: Reuters quoting British foreign ministry

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to “stand side by side” with India in its struggle against the coronavirus.

On Sunday – for the fourth day in a row – India set a new global record for daily Covid-19 infections.

According to the reports, India’s health ministry reported 349,691 cases on Sunday, bringing the total to 16.96 million, second only to the US.

The second wave of the Covid-19 has triggered an unprecedented surge in the cases which has increased the demand for medical supplies, especially oxygen which has proven to be one of the crucial elements for the patients contracting the novel virus.

Following discussions with Indian ministers, the UK is sending the first shipment of supplies on Sunday – due to arrive in New Delhi in the early hours of Tuesday – with further shipments to follow.

“We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner in the fight against COVID19. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he vowed his support to India.

We stand side by side with India as a friend and partner in fight against COVID19. We will continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time: Reuters quoting UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson pic.twitter.com/tFimeYyZmX

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Britain will issue support by sending over 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India. In total, nine airline container loads of supplies – including 495 oxygen concentrators, 120 non-invasive ventilators and 20 manual ventilators – will be sent to India from the UK this week.

Britain has announced that it's sending over 600 medical devices including oxygen concentrators and ventilators to India to help the country with a surge in #COVID19 cases; visuals from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, UK pic.twitter.com/mpQcNSlfgG

— ANI (@ANI) April 25, 2021

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock reflected on the same and said, “We are determined to support the people of India through this very difficult time, and I am hugely grateful to those who have worked hard to make this initial delivery happen.

“This first delivery of life-saving equipment will provide much-needed assistance and we stand ready to do more. The global pandemic has challenged health systems all across the world and the best way to overcome adversity is to unite and defeat this dreadful disease together,” he added.

Earlier this week, the United Kingdom added India to its ‘Red-list’ after detecting 103 cases of a coronavirus variant – first identified in the country.