The currency logged its sharpest intra-day fall in more than two weeks on Monday
asia1 hour ago
Britain’s Foreign Secretary on Sunday defended the country’s new security relationship with Australia and the United States as showing “readiness to be hard-headed in defending our interests,” despite more furious reaction from France.
As part of the alliance, Australia tore up a deal for French submarines in favour of American nuclear-powered vessels, sparking outrage in Paris which recalled France’s ambassadors to Canberra and Washington in an unprecedented move.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss wrote in the Sunday Telegraph that the pact, announced this week, “shows our commitment to security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region” and demonstrated the government’s ambition to build a “Global Britain” following its departure form the European Union.
“Our new security pact will not just make us safer at home, it could also create hundreds of new and high-skilled jobs,” she wrote.
“By positioning the UK at the heart of a network of economic, diplomatic and security partnerships... we are making our country safer and more competitive, standing up for our values.”
Truss, who was promoted to the role on Wednesday, said the move highlighted Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “vision for Global Britain”.
But her French counterpart on Saturday said Britain was a “third wheel” in the deal as he accused Sydney and Washington of lying over the ruptured Australian contract to buy French submarines, warning a grave crisis was underway between the allies.
Speaking to France 2 television, Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian gave no indication Paris was prepared to let the crisis die down, using distinctly undiplomatic language towards Australia, the US and Britain.
“There has been lying, duplicity, a major breach of trust and contempt,” Le Drian said. “This will not do.”
Le Drian also issued a stinging response to a question over why France had not recalled its ambassador to Britain.
“We have recalled our ambassadors to (Canberra and Washington) to re-evaluate the situation. With Britain, there is no need. We know their constant opportunism. So there is no need to bring our ambassador back to explain,” he said.
Of London’s role in the pact under Johnson, he added with derision: “Britain in this whole thing is a bit like the third wheel.”
US President Joe Biden announced the new Australia-US-Britain defence alliance on Wednesday, in a pact widely seen as aimed at countering the rise of China.
The currency logged its sharpest intra-day fall in more than two weeks on Monday
asia1 hour ago
Aaron Pierre and Kelvin Harrison Jr have come on board to voice the younger versions of Mufasa and Scar
entertainment2 hours ago
US FDA is gathering additional information on the matter, while Indian authorities have recently inspected the plants of the companies
asia2 hours ago
The total size of the offering remains unchanged at 900 million shares, representing 25 per cent of the company’s total issued share capital
markets2 hours ago
India's foreign ministry called the Washington Post report 'unwarranted and unsubstantiated', which stated that an officer in the intelligence service was directly involved in the plan
world2 hours ago
More than 34,000 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war broke out
world3 hours ago
The list of products whose licences were suspended included traditional medicines for asthma, bronchitis and diabetes
asia3 hours ago
The mercury is set to rise to 38ºC in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai
uae4 hours ago