Browsing Tag
United Kingdom
16 posts
In Taiwan, UK’s ex-PM to urge West to confront ‘Cold War’ with China
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss’s visit to Taiwan is expected to ignite a clash with both China and her successor Rishi Sunak as she calls for a tougher stance against Beijing.
Truss will demand that Sunak designate China as a strategic threat, close down UK-based Confucius Institutes controlled by the Chinese government, and replace them with cultural centers run by individuals from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
She will argue that the West cannot avoid a “Cold War” with China and criticize attempts to cooperate with Beijing on issues like climate change. Truss’s visit has drawn criticism and accusations of performative diplomacy.
Singapore to host Prince William’s Earthshot Prize
Singapore has been chosen as the host for the upcoming Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, organized by Prince William.
The event aims to recognize innovative efforts in tackling climate change, with winners in each category receiving £1 million. The ceremony will feature performances by renowned musicians and artists, and this year’s finalists will be announced later in the year.
The Earthshot Prize was inspired by President Kennedy’s “Moonshot” project and was established by Prince William in 2020.
UK drugmaker AstraZeneca logs soaring profit
AstraZeneca reported a five-fold increase in net profit to $1.8 billion in Q1 2023, as sales of cancer treatments offset the slump in Covid-related treatments.
The pharmaceutical giant’s turnover fell by 4% to US$10.9 billion, but excluding Covid-related sales, turnover jumped by 10% to $10.7 billion, with cancer treatment sales up 14%.
AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot credited the company’s strong start to the year to its impressive growth and innovation in emerging markets.
TikTok fined US$15.9 million in UK for flouting under-13 age limit
TikTok has been fined £12.7m (US$15.9m) by the UK Information Commissioner’s Office for violating its own rules by allowing up to 1.4 million children under 13 to use its social media platform without the consent of their parents or guardians.
The platform’s terms of service do not permit children under 13 to set up accounts.
TikTok facing ban on UK govt devices: media
TikTok faces an imminent ban on UK government phones due to security concerns; Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden is expected to address MPs later today.
The move would follow the European Union and United States in banning the Chinese-owned video sharing app on official devices.
HSBC buys failed US bank SVB’s UK arm for £1
HSBC has bought the UK arm of Silicon Valley Bank for just £1 in a rescue deal that ensures customer deposits remain protected and unaffected. The acquisition will allow HSBC to expand its ability to support fast-growing firms, particularly those in the tech and life sciences sectors. The deal comes after SVB collapsed last Friday due to customers making large withdrawals, making it the largest bank failure since 2008.
