Brexit compounded UK's shortage of doctors, says study

LONDON, United Kingdom - Brexit has compounded a shortage of doctors in Britain, with an estimated shortfall of 4,000 in major specialty areas from EU countries, a study published Sunday said.

It comes as the crisis-hit NHS state-funded health service struggles after years of underfinancing, with record waiting lists for some hospital care due to the Covid pandemic but also a lack of doctors and nurses.

The Nuffield Trust, an independent health think tank, focused on four fields of medicine -- anaesthesia, pediatrics, cardio-thoracic surgery and psychiatry -- where European doctors had been particularly relied upon before the UK left the European Union.

It found that in the four areas -- where recruitment was already challenging -- "the increase in EU and EFTA (European Free Trade Association) staff slowed down, falling below the projected increase".

If the trend seen before Brexit had continued, there should have been more than 41,000 doctors from the EU or EFTA (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein) registered in 2021, or at least 4,000 more than the figures showed.

"The campaign and result of the EU referendum is the obvious reason for a change in trend around 2015 and 2016," the study, commissioned by The Guardian newspaper, said.

It highlighted initial uncertainty over new rules for the movement of people, followed by tighter visa rules and "deteriorating work conditions" in the health system.

"The findings suggest that stagnation in the number of EU doctors in these specialities has exacerbated existing shortages in areas where the NHS has not been able to find enough qualified staff elsewhere," it added.

The Royal College of Nursing last week announced that its members would next month hold their first strike action in the union's 106-year history in England and Wales, citing pay, conditions -- and chronic staff shortages.

Agence France-Presse

High energy prices threaten UK hospital services

LONDON — UK hospitals bosses on Thursday warned that patient care may have to be cut to offset huge increases in energy bills over the winter months.

Most hospital groups contacted by medical journal the BMJ said they expected bills to at least double, as the price hikes kicked in.

The NHS Confederation, which represents health providers in the publicly funded National Health Service, said there would be a knock-on effect.

"The gap in funding from rising inflation will either have to be made up by fewer staff being employed, longer waiting times for care or other areas of patient care being cut back," the group's senior acute lead, Rory Deighton, told the BMJ.

"A failure to properly compensate the NHS for inflation will only heighten pressure on our health service as we move towards a winter that we know will be particularly challenging this year."

UK inflation is at a 40-year high of 10.1 percent with dire predictions that rates could climb to 18 percent or more next year.

Last week households were told that their gas and electricity bills would go up by 80 percent from October, with further rises set for next year.

But non-domestic customers are not covered by the energy price cap, making them more vulnerable to the surge in wholesale prices.

Businesses across the board have warned the huge increases could force many to close if the government does nothing to help.

The BMJ said bosses at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital in London told it that they expected an energy bill of about £650,000 a month in January and February next year.

At the same time last year, it was about £350,000.

Sheffield Children's Hospital in northern England has anticipated a rise of nearly 130 percent in its total bill for 2022-23.

But Nottingham University Hospital in central England has budgeted for a 214-percent rise in gas and electricity this year, it added.

NHS England set aside £1.5 billion to cover an expected £485-million increase in energy bills. But the estimate was made in May and prices have risen again, prompting concern it may not be enough.

'BREAKING POINT'

The situation only adds to a growing catalogue of problems faced by the publicly funded National Health Service.

The NHS, created in 1948 to provide free healthcare and paid out of general taxation, is a cherished British institution.

But the system, which costs £190 billion a year to run and employs some 1.2 million people in England alone, has long faced significant under-funding.

The NHS Confederation's Deighton said the UK's new prime minister, to be installed next week, needs to act immediately to offset cost of living increases.

"The NHS needs at least £3.4 billion to make up for inflation during this year alone, and that is before we face a winter of even higher wholesale energy prices," he added.

Deighton's boss, chief executive Matthew Taylor, told The Guardian this week that the NHS was "in its worst state in living memory".

Problems include chronic staff shortages, overcrowded accident and emergency departments, ambulance delays and lengthy waiting lists for treatment.

One experienced A&E doctor wrote on the UnHerd website this month that the service was "at breaking point", with patients at risk.

Health experts say the crisis is decades in the making but has been exacerbated by squeezed budgets over the last 12 years of Conservative government, Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic.

Nurses and junior doctors are currently being balloted for strike action as part of widespread industrial action over below-inflation pay offers.

NHS health and social care workers were hailed as heroes during the pandemic but in a sign of the crisis, some hospitals have set up food banks for staff struggling with the rising cost of living.

One NHS manager told LBC radio on Tuesday he was planning to convert spare hospital space into "warm rooms" for employees unable to afford winter heating at home.

Agence France-Presse

Seven people die in chaos near Kabul airport: UK

LONDON - Seven Afghan civilians have died in the chaos near Kabul airport, the British defense ministry said Sunday as thousands of people try to flee the country. 

"Our sincere thoughts are with the families of the seven Afghan civilians who have sadly died in crowds in Kabul," a ministry spokesman said.

The United States and its allies have been struggling to cope with the huge numbers of people trying to get on evacuation flights in the week since the Taliban retook power.

"Conditions on the ground remain extremely challenging but we are doing everything we can to manage the situation as safely and securely as possible," the spokesman said.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told the UK newspaper Mail on Sunday that "no nation will be able to get everyone out" before the US deadline of August 31.

"Perhaps the Americans will be permitted to stay longer and they will have our complete support if they do," he said.

Agence France-Presse

UK supermarkets ask shoppers to keep wearing masks

LONDON - Britain's biggest supermarket groups will encourage staff and customers to keep wearing face coverings from Monday despite new rules making it a matter of personal choice.

The government is removing most pandemic restrictions from July 19 in England, saying a rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has largely broken the link between infections and serious illness or death.

Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Morrisons and Aldi all said they would prefer staff and customers to keep wearing masks.

The groups - who are among Britain's biggest private sector employers - said they would keep other safety measures in place, including limits on the number of people in stores, protective screens at checkouts and regular cleaning.

"We’re asking our customers and colleagues to be on the safe side," Tesco, Britain's biggest supermarket group, said.

An opinion poll published on Thursday by Kantar Public found two thirds of people wanted some, most or all of the coronavirus restrictions to remain and 60% thought everyone should continue to wear face masks in shops and on public transport.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has acknowledged that a wave of infections is inevitable when restrictions end, but said worse harm would come from keeping the economy shut and pointed to the successful vaccine rollout.

Government advice is that people should still wear masks in crowded areas. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said they will remain mandatory on the capital's public transport network.

In Scotland and Wales face coverings remain a legal requirement. 

-reuters

Queen Elizabeth makes first appearance since Harry and Meghan interview

LONDON - Britain's Queen Elizabeth has made her first appearance since a tell-all interview by grandson Prince Harry and his wife Meghan rocked the monarchy, but made no reference to the crisis it had caused her family.

During the Oprah Winfrey interview, Meghan said a member of the royal family had made a racist comment and Harry criticized his relatives for how they dealt with press treatment of his wife, with the fallout dominating the British media since it aired last Sunday.

On Thursday, Harry's elder brother Prince William told reporters "we're very much not a racist family", the day after the 94-year-old monarch herself issued a statement on behalf of the royals in which she said they were saddened by how challenging the couple had found the last few years.

The Sun newspaper, citing an unnamed source, said Harry's father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles, had wanted to issue a point by point rebuttal, but the royal family had decided not to get involved in a 'tit for tat' battle.

In a video call with scientists and schoolchildren to mark British Science Week, the queen did not refer to the interview at all, the royals' usual approach to what they have said was a private, family matter.

Instead she discussed the latest updates from NASA's Mars Perseverance mission, as well as the discovery of a rare meteorite which landed in Gloucestershire, western England last month, the first to be recovered in the United Kingdom for 30 years.

"I’m glad it didn't hit anyone," the queen quipped during the "virtual showcase", which took place on Wednesday although details were only released by Buckingham Palace on Friday.

When told by space scientist and broadcaster Maggie Aderin-Pocock that she had been inspired to follow her career by the exploits of Russian Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space in 1961, Elizabeth, who has reigned for 69 years, recounted that she had met him shortly afterwards at Buckingham Palace.

Asked what he was like, she replied: "Russian, he didn't speak English. He was fascinating and I suppose being the first one, it was particularly fascinating." 

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Kate Holton)

-reuters

London set for tighter virus curbs as new variant emerges in England

LONDON - The British capital faces tougher COVID-19 measures within days, the UK government said on Monday, with a new coronavirus variant emerging as a possible cause for rapidly rising infection rates.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said London, and parts of three surrounding counties, would move into the highest of three levels of restrictions in force across England from Wednesday.

Pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues will have to close, except for takeaway food, as will theatres and other venues in the entertainment sector.

Members of different households can't mingle indoors, although people can still meet in groups of up to six in public places outside. Shops and schools can remain open.

"This action is absolutely essential, not just to keep people safe but because we have seen early action can prevent more damage and longer-term problems later," Hancock told parliament.

In some areas, cases are doubling every seven days, he said, warning: "It only takes a few doublings for the NHS (National Health Service) to be overwhelmed."

London had already seen a "sharp rise" in daily cases and hospital admissions, and there is concern about the "new variant" of the coronavirus initially detected in southeast England, where cases are now rising the fastest, officials said.

England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty stressed there was no evidence that the variant is more dangerous, infectious or able to evade testing.

He also cautioned against blaming it for the spike in cases across the country's southeast.

"The variant may or may not be contributing to that," Whitty said at a press conference, adding: "We don't know what's cause and effect."

'INCREDIBLY DISAPPOINTING'

Andrew Davidson, reader in virology at Bristol University, said coronaviruses are known to mutate, have done elsewhere in Europe and North America, and were not always more virulent.

"However, if they spread more easily but cause the same disease severity, more people will end up becoming ill in a short period of time," he said.

Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said it was not yet clear how the variant would affect the first vaccines and treatments.

"The surveillance and research must continue and we must take the necessary steps to stay ahead of the virus," he added. 

Britain last week became the first country to offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and is now rolling out the program to GP surgeries, and in care homes in Scotland.

The move comes two days before a national review of the tier system and just as the struggling hospitality and entertainment sector is trying to rebound from a torrid year of closures.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan described the decision as "incredibly disappointing" for businesses but added: "It's much better to act early, rather than too late."

'CATASTROPHIC YEAR'

Theater producer Cameron Mackintosh, though, said "the sudden volte-face by the government... is devastating for both the theatre and the economy".

Christmas is normally a money-spinner for theatres, with shows including pantomimes, and was this year seen as vital given hardships faced by actors, backstage and front of house staff.

Jon Morgan, director of the Theatres Trust, said the new closures would create more uncertainty and losses, and compounded a "catastrophic year for theatre". 

"My entire cast and company are now crying," added Michael Harrison, who is producing "Pantoland at the Palladium". 

Catherine McGuinness, of the City of London Corporation, urged the government to keep its decision "under close review" and urged "adequate support" for businesses most affected.

Shops and hairdressers can stay open in Tier 3, as can schools but several London districts are sending children home from Tuesday because of rising numbers of cases among older children.

Testing of 11 to 18-year-old students began in the worst-affected areas on Monday.

On Friday, the "R number" in London indicating how many other people someone with the virus will infect was between 0.9 and 1.1, according to the government's website.

London has seen more than 201,000 of the 1.8 million positive tests countrywide, and more than 7,000 of over 63,000 deaths.

Agence France-Presse

Boris Johnson wins race to become Britain's next prime minister

LONDON, United Kingdom — Boris Johnson won the race to become Britain's next prime minister on Tuesday, heading straight into a confrontation over Brexit with Brussels and parliament, as well as a tense diplomatic stand-off with Iran.

The former London mayor easily beat his rival, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt, in a vote of grassroots members of the governing Conservative Party.

He is expected to be confirmed as prime minister on Wednesday when Theresa May formally tenders her resignation to Queen Elizabeth II.

US President Donald Trump was the first world leader to offer his congratulations, saying: "He will be great!"

It is a triumph for a man who has always coveted the premiership. But Johnson, known for his jokes and bluster, is taking over at a time of immense political upheaval.

Three years after the referendum vote to leave the European Union, Britain remains a member amid continued wrangling in a divided parliament on how to proceed.

'We'll get Brexit done'

Johnson led the referendum "Leave" campaign and -- after May delayed Brexit twice -- insists the latest deadline must be met, with or without a divorce agreement with the EU.

"We're going to get Brexit done on October 31," he declared in a speech to party members in London, after winning 66 percent of almost 140,000 votes cast.

However, Brussels says it will not renegotiate the deal it struck with May to ease the end of a 46-year partnership -- even after British MPs rejected it three times.

EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said Tuesday he wanted to work with Johnson "to facilitate the ratification of the withdrawal agreement and achieve an orderly Brexit".

Ursula von der Leyen, who will take over as head of the European Commission on November 1, congratulated Johnson but warned of "challenging times ahead of us".

Although parliament dislikes May's deal, Johnson faces significant opposition from MPs to his threat to leaving with no deal, including from Conservative colleagues.

Several ministers said they will not serve under Johnson, warning that severing ties overnight with Britain's closest trading partner is deeply irresponsible.

But Johnson insisted he could change the atmosphere in parliament, saying: "Like some slumbering giant we are going to rise and ping off the guy ropes of self-doubt and negativity."

'Brilliant or a disaster'

After addressing Conservative MPs privately following his victory, Johnson told reporters he was "impatient".

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said his speech "left everybody feeling good, and positive and cheerful."

One Brexiteer MP added: "The clouds have lifted."

However, Johnson's premiership is vulnerable.

His government will command a majority of just two -- 320 votes to 318 -- in parliament's lower House of Commons.

Colleagues who disagree with Johnson are willing to give him a chance to get a Brexit deal, at least over parliament's impending six-week summer recess.

But if "no deal" looks likely in September, many MPs have vowed to stop him -- a move that could trigger an early election.

The main opposition Labour party is not expected to force a confidence vote this week, but challenged him to call an election.

However, both Labour and the Conservatives are struggling to appeal to a public deeply divided over Britain's future, facing a pincer movement from Nigel Farage's eurosceptic Brexit Party and the pro-EU Liberal Democrats.

Business leaders called on Johnson to seek accord with Brussels, with Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry lobby, saying he "must not underestimate the benefits of a good deal".

The pound bounced briefly higher before falling lower again to $1.24 after Johnson's victory was announced.

Outside parliament, where pro- and anti-Brexit protesters gather daily, reaction to Johnson's victory was mixed.

"It's the most we can hope for," said eurosceptic Michelle Pearce, 64, adding: "He'll be brilliant or a disaster."

Ruth Fryer, 66, wearing a "bin Brexit" badge, added: "He's a bit of a loose cannon and no one knows what he'll do."

Gulf tensions

Johnson's domestic battles might initially have to take a backseat as he manages tensions with Iran.

The Islamic republic seized a UK-flagged tanker in the strategic Strait of Hormuz last Friday.

The stand-off comes amid escalating tensions between Iran and the United States over the Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted his congratulations to Johnson, saying: "Iran does not seek confrontation.

"But we have 1,500 miles of Persian Gulf coastline. These are our waters and we will protect them."

source: philstar.com

British MPs wrangle ahead of momentous Brexit debate

London - UK lawmakers held up a momentous Brexit debate on yesterday, accusing the government of contempt over its handling of the withdrawal agreement, as a top EU legal opinion stated Britain could even call off its departure from the bloc altogether.

Prime Minister Theresa May is facing resistance on all sides of the House of Commons to the withdrawal agreement she struck with the European Union last month.

Its chances of being approved look slim, raising the risk of Britain crashing out of the world's largest single market on March 29 without trade arrangements in place.


The Conservative leader was set to tell MPs in a speech later on yesterday that the deal "delivers for the British people".

"The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted," May will say, according to comments released by her Downing Street office.

But her speech is being delayed by a dispute over the government's refusal to publish the full legal advice it has received about the implications of May's plan.

Conservative House leader Andrea Leadsom told MPs that May's government had a right to receive confidential opinions that were unhampered by political considerations.

"What we break now may be very difficult to fix later," Leadsom said.

Opposition Labour Party member Keir Starmer said "the government is wilfully refusing to comply with a binding order of this House and that is contempt".

The row is unlikely to have any impact on the course of Brexit.

But it does highlight how little control May's fragile minority government has over MPs ahead of next yesterday crucial vote.

- 'Brexit shambles' -

Pro-European MPs pressing for a second referendum on staying in the EU received a sudden boost from an opinion issued by a legal adviser to the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

Advocate General Campos Sanchez-Bordona stated that Britain could halt the entire process without the agreement of other EU countries.

"That possibility continues to exist until the withdrawal agreement is formally concluded," he said.

Downing Street reaffirmed on yesterday that May has absolutely no intention of doing so -- and that the ruling was in either case only advisory.

"It does nothing, in any event, to change the clear position of the government that Article 50 is not going to be revoked," May's spokesman said.

But the Scottish National Party's Alyn Smith -- one of several MPs who brought the case -- proclaimed: "We now have a roadmap out of the Brexit shambles."

- Renegotiate Brexit? -

The vote next week has huge implications for Britain's future and that of May herself.

Left-wing Labour said May's defeat next yesterday would likely trigger a confidence vote to bring down her government.

She has also been constantly challenged by hardline eurosceptics in her own party and might face an internal leadership contest as well.

Hardline Conservative Brexiteers say May's compromise deal does not represent enough of a break with Brussels.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) -- the Northern Ireland party propping up May's government -- also objects to special provisions for the province.

Many of May's critics want her to go back and renegotiate.

- Brexit bill -

The EU Withdrawal Agreement covers a settlement of £39 billion (43.7 billion euros, $49.8 billion) that Britain will have to play for leaving.

It also sets out the rights of EU expatriates and plans for a post-Brexit transition period lasting to December 2020.

The extra time is intended to give both sides a chance to strike a new trade and security relationship.

Failure to do so would trigger a "backstop" arrangement that keeps Britain in an EU customs union -- with Northern Ireland also following EU rules on regulation of goods.

May insists this is necessary to avoid border checks in Ireland. Opponents say this risks tying Britain to the EU for years to come.

source: philstar.com

British royal family thanks those who celebrated wedding

LONDON — The royal family has thanked people who attended or watched the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

"Thank you to everyone who came to Windsor and those who followed from around the UK, the Commonwealth, and the world," the royals said.

The family tweeted its thanks late Saturday night while Harry and his bride were attending a private soiree hosted by Harry's father, Prince Charles.

Kensington Palace did not release details, but photographs showed Markle, now known formally as the Duchess of Sussex, wearing an emerald-cut aquamarine ring that had belonged to Harry's mother, Princess Diana, to the reception.

The newlyweds spent their first night as a married couple at Windsor Castle. They are not immediately going on honeymoon.

source: philstar.com

For a prince's wedding, even the greenery has royal roots

WINDSOR, England — Even the foliage in the flower arrangements will have royal roots.

Philippa Craddock, the London florist selected by Meghan Markle and Prince Harry to design the blooms for their wedding ceremony, said Wednesday that ferns and branches of silver birch, English oak and beech from Windsor Great Park will be part of the greenery adorning the scenery at nearby St. George's Chapel.

An integral part at that, according to Craddock.

"The base is the foliage, that's where the designs start from, and then the flowers are complementary on top of that, but actually it's very much the foliage and shapes of the branches that will give us the shape of the designs," she told Britain's Press Association.

Windsor Great Park is one of the public open spaces owned by Britain's monarch. Unsurprisingly, its 4,800 acres have quite the pedigree.

William the Conqueror hunted there in the 11th century when the park was a forest. King Charles II was the one who tamed the land in the late 17th century. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, the husband she would forever mourn after his death at Windsor Castle, were devoted park patrons.

Harry's great-grandfather, King George VI, set in place the first of 60 oak trees that were planted in honor of his 1937 coronation. Another row of oaks honors Harry's grandfather, Prince Philip, who holds the title of park ranger. Still another celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday.

Kensington Palace previously revealed that roses, peonies and foxgloves also will be in the church arrangements at Saturday's wedding. Beyond that, Craddock and the garden keeper at Windsor Great Park, John Anderson, are staying respectfully discreet.

"There are moments where I've focused on it being another commission, so it's like working with any one of our couples, and of course you take a step back and you just realize the enormity of it," Craddock said. "It's a huge occasion and we're just hugely privileged."

source: philstar.com

PM May’s grip on power in doubt as UK election heads for stalemate

LONDON — British voters punished Theresa May for her electoral gamble by denying her the resounding mandate she wanted to strengthen her hand in Brexit talks, casting doubt over her premiership and raising the prospect of a deadlocked parliament.

An exit poll predicted the Conservatives would win 314 seats in Britain’s 650-member parliament and the left-wing opposition Labor Party 266 — a “hung parliament” with no clear winner.

May unexpectedly called the snap election seven weeks ago to increase the slim majority she had inherited from predecessor David Cameron before launching into arduous divorce talks with the European Union, set to start in just over a week.

Instead, if the exit poll showing strong gains for Jeremy Corbyn’s Labor is anywhere near accurate, she risks losing power in what would be an ignominious end to her 11 months at Number 10 Downing Street.

May had spent the campaign denouncing Corbyn as the weak leader of a spendthrift party that would crash Britain’s economy and flounder in Brexit talks, while she would provide “strong and stable leadership” to clinch a good deal for Britain.

But her campaign unraveled after a major policy u-turn on care for the elderly, while Corbyn’s old-school socialist platform and more impassioned campaigning style won wider support than anyone had foreseen.

“We still don’t know the final result of this election, it is too early to say, but it looks likely to be a very, very bad result for Theresa May,” said Labor’s Deputy Leader Tom Watson in a statement after holding his own seat.

Sterling fell by more than two cents against the U.S. dollar.

“A hung parliament is the worst outcome from a markets perspective as it creates another layer of uncertainty ahead of the Brexit negotiations and chips away at what is already a short timeline to secure a deal for Britain,” said Craig Erlam, an analyst with brokerage Oanda in London.

Brexit questions
With the smaller parties more closely aligned with Labor than with the Conservatives, the prospect of Corbyn becoming prime minister no longer seems fanciful.

That would make the course of Brexit even harder to predict. During his three decades on Labor’s leftist fringe, Corbyn consistently opposed European integration and denounced the EU as a corporate, capitalist body.

As party leader, he unenthusiastically campaigned for Britain to remain in the bloc. How he would steer Britain through Brexit negotiations has not been explained in detail.

Early results were in line with the exit poll, with Labor doing better than expected. That was in part because votes that had previously gone to the anti-EU UKIP party were splitting evenly between the two major parties instead of going overwhelmingly to the Conservatives as pundits had expected.

The Conservatives failed to win the constituency of Darlington in northern England, a key target. In Wales, the closely-fought Vale of Clwyd seat was the first to switch from the Conservatives to Labor.

One of May’s top ministers, Home Secretary Amber Rudd, faced a recount in her south coast constituency, an indication that the result there was very close.

In Battersea, a London constituency, a Conservative junior finance minister lost her seat to Labor.

Even if the exit poll has underestimated the number of Conservative seats, as it did in 2015, and the party ends up with a slim majority, May will be so weakened that she may not be able to keep her job.

When she called the election, she was enjoying opinion poll leads of 20 points and more. She was widely expected to win a landslide. Should she now be forced to step down, that would make her tenure the shortest of any British premier since the 1920s.

“MAYHEM” screamed the headline in the tabloid Sun newspaper. “Britain on a knife edge,” said the Daily Mail.

Troubled campaign
Apart from the U-turn on care policy, May was also criticized during the campaign for refusing to debate her opponents on television. After Britain was hit by two Islamist militant attacks that killed 30 people in less than two weeks, she also faced questions for having overseen cuts to numbers of police officers during her six years as interior minister.

Her opinion poll lead narrowed sharply, although the consensus before the exit poll remained that she would win a majority.

If the exit poll is correct and neither party wins an overall majority, Corbyn could attempt to form a government with smaller parties that also strongly oppose most of May’s policies on domestic issues such as public spending cuts.

If Labor does take power with the backing of the Scottish Nationalist Party and the center-left Liberal Democrats, both parties adamantly opposed to Brexit, Britain’s future will be very different to the course the Conservatives were planning.

Labor has said it would push ahead with Brexit but would scrap May’s negotiating plans and make its priority maintaining the benefits of both the EU single market and its customs union.

In domestic policy, it proposes raising taxes for the richest 5 percent of Britons, scrapping university tuition fees, investing 250 billion pounds ($315 billion) in infrastructure plans and re-nationalizing the railways and postal service.

The exit poll forecast the Scottish National Party (SNP) would win 34 seats, the center-left Liberal Democrats 14, the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru three and the Greens one. Other parties were projected to win 18 seats.

“If the poll is anything like accurate, this is completely catastrophic for the Conservatives and for Theresa May,” said George Osborne, former Conservative finance minister.

May herself had said during her campaign: “It’s a fact that if we lose just six seats, we will lose our majority and Jeremy Corbyn will become prime minister,” predicting that the Scottish Nationalists and Liberal Democrats would back him.

“Well results are still coming in, but we are going to hold her to that,” Labor’s deputy leader Watson said.

Almost all of the smaller parties are opposed to May’s Brexit strategy built around leaving the EU’s single market, controlling immigration and escaping the jurisdiction of EU courts.

The center-left, strongly pro-EU Liberal Democrats, who were in coalition with the Conservatives between 2010 and 2015, looked unlikely to go down that route again. They were close to wiped out in the 2015 election.

Their former leader Nick Clegg, who was deputy prime minister during the coalition years, said the party would not prop up a Conservative government.

In Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party, a natural ally of the Conservatives, said it would negotiate with the Conservatives if they fell short of a majority, as both parties had common ground.

source: interaksyon.com

Cheaper iPhone 5C raises doubts, guess

BEIJING — A cheaper, smaller version of the iPhone 5C smart-phone was unveiled by Apple Tuesday, but with raised doubts and guess among consumers and experts.

This 8 GB edition of former iPhone 5C, only available in the UK, France, Germany, Australia and China, aims to boost consumers’ interest and bring the fourth-generation iPad back from the dead.

However, 8 GB of storage is not enough any more, as some iPhone fans pointed out. Because higher quality photos and high definition movies would take up a huge space, and consumers prefer a 32G or even 64G for more storage.



This “cut-price” version of iPhone 5C signaled Apple’s ambitions and appeal shift to wider, more emerging markets, as expert said, which is also a possible move to take on Samsung.

source: interaksyon.com

Payment for UK visa applications from Philippines now online - embassy

MANILA - Starting January 14, all UK visa applicants in the Philippines will now be required to pay for their visa online, in US Dollars, as part of the online application process using either a Visacard or Mastercard, the British embassy here said in a news release.

The integration of payment into the online system will provide a more streamlined visa application process for customers and is part of a wider move to allow almost all of our customers to apply and pay for their visas online by 2013/14, the embassy said.

The new rule was enforced starting December 17, 2012. However, customers who have completed their online application form prior to that date were allowed to pay using one of the methods of payment currently available, until January 13, 2013.

From January 14, 2013 only applications where the payment has been made online will be accepted.

Once customers have applied and paid for their visa online they will need to visit the visa application centre to submit their documents and provide their biometrics (fingerprints and digital photograph). Appointments to attend the visa application centre should be booked online when completing the online application form.

For further information on how to apply for a visa in the Philippines, visit the UK Border Agency in the Philippines website at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/philippines/

source: interaksyon.com

UK Minister of State Hugo Swire to visit Manila

MANILA - British Minister of State Hugo Swire is arriving in Manila today, December 10, for a two-day visit in efforts to boost the bilateral relationship between the two countries, the British embassy here said in a news release.

Swire is keen at seeing the Philippines’ progress in its anti-corruption efforts, as well as in improving its economy.







He also reiterated UK’s strong support of the Framework Agreement on Mindanao.

“I’m delighted to visit at an exciting time. We enjoy many shared values and are keen to work with the Philippines in boosting the prosperity of both our countries,” Swire said.

“This visit reinforces the growing importance we attach to the Philippines as a key emerging power,” he added.

British Ambassador Stephen Lillie said Swire will call on President Benigno Aquino III and sign a Joint Plan of Action and Air Services Agreement with Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario.

Swire will also meet with Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya and Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima in addition to speaking about bilateral trade and investment opportunities at a joint luncheon with the Makati Business Club, the Management Association of the Philippines, the Philippine-British Business Council, and the British Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

This is Swire’s first official trip to the Philippines, which forms part of a Southeast Asia tour that includes Brunei and Burma. Promotion of bilateral trade and investment will be the core strand of the tour, with peace and security as other key themes.

Swire’s visit rounds off a great year in UK-Philippines relations which included President Aquino’s trip to London in June, Ambassador Lillie said. 

“We are looking forward to building on that in the coming year, using the Joint Plan of Action to lift relations to a new level across a whole range of issues, from business links to political cooperation and further work on peace building in Mindanao,” he said.

source: interaksyon.com

Affiliate model justified in roundtable

a4uexpo London hosted a roundtable of various performance marketing figureheads. The discussion was filmed and organised by affilinet and featured representatives from companies such as Nectar, Holiday Autos and uSwitch.



Mary Keane-Dawson was chief instigator of conversation. She incited discussion about the entrepreneurial aspect of the industry. Publishers are uncovering new technologies and business models, which will help advertisers test and trial new CPA activity, a big positive for the sector.

There was talk about the perception of publishers. They should be pushing to become viewed as brands, especially the more mature, premium publishers. There will likely be a shift in perception where customers become brand-loyal in the UK, much like consumerism in the USA.

Publishers should become brands

Evidence of publishers becoming brands is no more evident than in the spate of TV advertisements that have been aired recently. The traditional role of affiliates as being purely a mechanism for generating sales is becoming somewhat of a grey area. Their increased media activities show they create demand too.

Big data’s still in its infancy according to the roundtable. You just have to look at the volume the industry has available and how little it’s capitalising on that volume. There was talk about pooling it together so publishers, networks and advertisers can create a bigger picture of future trends.

Talent is another issue that needs to be resolved. The roundtable felt so-called attractive digital channels like mobile and social were more appealing. Once affiliate business had recruited talent, they needed to be kept engaged. It’s a tricky prospect as new recruits look to broaden their marketing experience by hopping to other channel.

source: affiliates4u.com

JC Flowers Pumps $105 Million Into New UK Mortgage Firm

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. private equity firm JC Flowers is investing 65 million pounds to help establish a new British mortgage provider and investment company called Castle Trust.

Castle Trust said on Sunday that it will provide UK home-buyers with an extra source of funding in addition to bank lending, as well as offering people the chance to invest in the housing market through saving products linked to house prices. 

Castle Trust will be chaired by Callum McCarthy, the former chairman of the Financial Services Authority who is chairman of JC Flower's European arm. 

Under the company's lending scheme, home-buyers will take out a regular mortgage but can also borrow 20 percent of the cost of the house from Castle Trust. When they come to sell the house or reach the end of their mortgage term, they will owe Castle Trust 40 percent of any profit made on the sale. 

Home ownership is popular in Britain but the cost of buying a property has risen beyond the reach of some people after lenders tightened borrowing terms following the financial crisis. 

"Castle Trust aims to bring solutions to problems which have too long affected the UK housing market," McCarthy said in a statement. 

source: nytimes.com

Second ELC store opens in Greenbelt 5

MANILA, Philippines - The second Early Learning Centre (ELC) store, UK’s leading toy retailer, opens in October at Greenbelt 5. ELC has been sharing its fun, educational and developmental toys with babies and toddlers for almost four decades. Established in 1974, ELC has been Britain’s favorite toy shop for over 38 years, providing toys that inspire and stimulate children to develop as they play.

Children of different age groups are sure to find the best toys suited for their developmental stage. Parents and babies discover the world together with toys from the baby and toddler category. Girls aged three to eight years can set their imagination free with the help of make-believe toys from the Let’s Pretend line. With the launch of ELC Active Fun last February, the Let’s Pretend kitchen sets had parents discovering their little master chefs. In this category also, kids can explore their future with our Let’s Pretend professional costumes, they could either dress up as a doctor, a fireman or a royal princess!






Boys of all ages can experience just how thrilling the world can be with exciting toys from the Action and Adventure category. For kids fond of dinosaurs, ELC has Dino Kingdom and German-made Schleich animal collectibles. For kids who love cars, it has the Big City Garage, the Spiral Race Ramp and 20 Superwheel cars to play, race and chase!

Bring out the rock star in your child with the Music and Learning Rockstar guitar. ELC also carries other musical toys such as the Carry Along keyboard, Sing Along Star Mic and Sing along CD player.

Early Learning Centre toy shops are magical places of delight and discovery for babies, young children and parents across the world. Its unique and innovative toys are designed and created by experts to help children develop as they play and have fun.

ELC values the importance of learning and play, which is crucial in the developing and growing years of a child. All ELC toys meet British and European standards for toy safety. The toys are specially made to nurture the holistic development and inspire.

Early Learning Centre toy shop is located at G/F Active Fun Building, Bonifacio High Street and the soon to open at Level 3 of Greenbelt 5, Makati City.

source: philstar.com

Man’s bloody suicide witnessed by girlfriend via video call

A woman from Berkshire, England could only watch in horror as his 53-year-old boyfriend who was on a business trip in India slashed his wrists, throat and stomach while on a video call with her through Skype.

According to a report by the UK-based newspaper Mirror, Julie Zalinski was on the call with Adrian Rowland when the incident happened. Rowland was reportedly in a “complete state” during the call, “was sweating profusely” with eyes staring.

“He said there were people in the room that weren’t there. I just kept reassuring him that nobody was there. I told him I’d get help,” Zalinski told the Mirror.

“He walked into the kitchen, grabbed a glass and smashed it on the table then stuck it straight into his neck. He was holding his bloodied wrist out to the screen,” she added.

“He kept saying, ‘they are going to get me, they are going to get me’.”

The woman immediately called help from the UK police to contact authorities in India, but even as Indian emergency services managed to reach Rowland’s apartment, Indian law prevented them from breaking down his door.

“Agonizingly, [Rowland] slowly bled to death as [Zalinski] continued to beg him to accept help,” the report said, adding that he was found dead 10 hours after the first Skype call.

The coroner in the UK said Rowland was “going through a mental crisis,” as Zalinski shared how he had been acting strangely just a day before, saying he had been entertaining guests at dinner even as the Skype video didn’t show anyone with the 53-year-old in the room.

Rowland had reportedly gone to India as a consultant in the automotive industry, and had been emotional before he left.

“He didn’t like being away from the UK and me,” she said,” Zalinski told the inquest that followed.

source: interaksyon.com

Things To Consider in Buying a New Car

If you are thinking about buying a new car you are probably considering from where to get a loan. Assuming you live in the United Kingdom and want to take out a car loan, you should consider all the deals available and shop around for the best one. Each loan company has different criteria so you need to consider all of these before making a decision. If you do not plan wisely you may be paying a high rate of interest which could cause financial problems as the United Kingdom is not a cheap place !


These five points may be useful to consider.


Look at the options :
Keep in mind the various choices that are available to you in the UK. There are so many that it makes good sense to take time and effort in choosing the right car loan for your circumstances.

A secured or unsecured loan :
Unsecured loans in the UK are good for car buyers who do not want to have their homes offered as collaterol . or indeed if they have no property to offer anyway. The advantage of unsecured car loans are reasonably low interest rates, currently between 6 - 9%. Also the monthly repayments are more manageable. The disadvantage is that you must have a good credit rating to apply for such a loan.

Choosing a variable or Fixed Rate loan :
Both options have advantages and disadvantages. With a variable rate loan there is a chance of rate increases in the future, however, if the rate goes down, you could benefit financially. Interest rates on fixed loans are constant for the life of the loan, so managing the loan is much easier.

Balloon payments :
The basic thing with Balloon payments is that as you have agreed to pay the full amount at the end of a predetermined month, you have no worries about affording monthly repayments. Advantages of Balloon payments are attractive due to there being no risk involved

Do you approach car finance companies ? :
There are many car finance companies in the UK that offer loans to people whether their credit rating be good or not so good. For people with bad credit ratings this option is a distinct advantage as they are able to buy a car, whereas under other circumstances this would not be possible. However this type of loan is often considered disadvantageous, as such a loan is seen as high risk lending and and consequently carries a high rate of interest.