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Tory peer appointed uk's new tourism minister.

Conservative peer Lord Syed Kamall has been named the UK’s new tourism minister after predecessor Nigel Huddleston moved to the party’s whips office .

Kamall, professor of politics and international relations at St Mary’s University in Twickenham, will also take responsibility for civic society, heritage and growth as part of his remit at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport.

He was previously technology, innovation and life sciences minister at the Department of Health and Social Care between 17 September 2021 and 20 September 2022. 

Kamall was a Conservative MEP for London from 2005 to 2019 and became a life peer on 11 February 2021.

Previous tourism minister Huddleston faced industry anger after his comments in an interview with TTG editor Sophie Griffiths in December 2020.

When questioned over the lack of support government had given to travel businesses during the pandemic, Huddleston argued: “No support? Of course, you’ve had support... it may not be targeted specifically but let’s be honest and deal with facts – you did get support.”

Following Kamall’s appointment, UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls tweeted: "We welcome Lord @ SyedKamall to his new role as Minister for Tourism - our 3rd largest export earner - and look forward to working with him & @ DCMS team to implement Tourism Recovery Plan to boost our sector and generate jobs, growth and investment at pace."

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Lord Syed Kamall appointed UK’s new tourism minister

Life Peer Lord Syed Kamal has been announced as the UK’s new tourism minister as part of prime minister Liz Truss’ ongoing government reshuffle.

Kamall, who replaces Nigel Huddleston MP, will also take responsibility for civic society, heritage and growth alongside tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

The former technology, innovation and life sciences minister was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences at the Department of Health and Social Care.

He is also professor of politics and international relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and was previously academic and research director at the Institute of Economic Affairs.

“We would like to thank outgoing Nigel Huddleston, MP, for his work in tourism, and welcome Lord Syed Kamall to his new role as minister for tourism and look forward to working with him and DCMS,” Visit Britain said in a statement.

UKhospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “We welcome Lord Syed Kamall to his new role as minister for tourism – our third largest export earner – and look forward to working with him and DCMS to implement the Tourism Recovery Plan to boost the sector and generate jobs, growth and investment at pace.”

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• government , hospitality , tourism , UK Government , UKHospitality

Life Peer Lord Syed Kamal has been announced as the UK’s new tourism minister as part of prime minister Liz Truss’ ongoing government reshuffle.

Kamall, who replaces Nigel Huddleston MP, will also take responsibility for civic society, heritage and growth alongside tourism at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS).

The former technology, innovation and life sciences minister was previously Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences at the Department of Health and Social Care.

He is also professor of politics and international relations at St Mary’s University, Twickenham and was previously academic and research director at the Institute of Economic Affairs.

“We would like to thank outgoing Nigel Huddleston, MP, for his work in tourism, and welcome Lord Syed Kamall to his new role as minister for tourism and look forward to working with him and DCMS,” Visit Britain said in a statement.

UKhospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said: “We welcome Lord Syed Kamall to his new role as minister for tourism – our third largest export earner – and look forward to working with him and DCMS to implement the Tourism Recovery Plan to boost the sector and generate jobs, growth and investment at pace.”

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April 14, 2024 - Iran's attack on Israel

By Jerome Taylor, Heather Chen , James Legge, Sophie Tanno, Emma Tucker , Kaanita Iyer , Paul LeBlanc , Catherine Nicholls, Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford and Eve Rothenberg, CNN

Our live coverage of Iran's attack on Israel has moved  here .

India calls on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board seized container ship 

From CNN's Sandi Sidhu in Hong Kong 

India has called on Iran to release 17 Indian crew members on board a container ship seized by Iran on Saturday. 

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said that he spoke to his Iranian counterpart Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian and "took up the release of 17 Indian crew members of MSC Aries."

Four Filipino seamen were also on board the ship, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.

The department said it was working with its government, the ship owner, and the operator to release the captured seafarers.

On Saturday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized an Israeli-linked container ship in a helicopter operation near the Strait of Hormuz, state news agency IRNA reported. 

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) said there were 25 crew members on board.

Japanese prime minister condemns Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Junko Ogura in Tokyo 

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday said he "strongly condemns" Iran's missile and drone attack on Israel.

"(The attack) further aggravates the current situation in the Middle East. We are deeply concerned and strongly condemn such an escalation," Kishida told reporters.

Kishida said Japan would continue diplomatic efforts to "prevent the situation from worsening and to calm the situation down," and "respond in cooperation with other countries."

Blinken calls British and German counterparts following Iran's attack on Israel

From CNN's Philip Wang 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts from the United Kingdom and Germany on Sunday following Iran's attack on Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

All parties agreed "the importance of condemning Iran's attack in the strongest possible terms and preventing further escalation," the readout said. 

Blinken earlier held phone calls with his counterparts from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia , in which he emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the Middle East and of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

US forces destroyed more than 80 attack drones from Iran and Yemen, Central Command says

From CNN's Philip Wang

US forces intercepted more than 80 one-way attack drones and at least six ballistic missiles from Iran and Yemen during its attack on Israel, according to a statement from the Central Command.

The operation included destroying a ballistic missile on its launcher vehicle and seven drones on the ground in Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, CENTCOM said. 

"Iran's continued unprecedented, malign, and reckless behavior endangers regional stability and the safety of U.S. and coalition forces," the statement added. 

Israeli and Iranian ambassadors trade accusations during UN Security Council session

From Abel Alvarado in Atlanta

Israel and Iran’s United Nations ambassadors condemned each other’s actions during Sunday’s UN Security Council emergency session called to address Iran’s attack on Israel.

Israel’s UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said Iran "must be stopped before it drives the world to a point of no return, to a regional war that can escalate to a world war." Erdan accused Iran of seeking world domination and that its attack proved that Tehran "cares nothing, nothing for Islam or Muslims" before pulling out a tablet to show a video of Israel intercepting Iranian drones above Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Erdan called on the UN Security Council to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terror organization.

“Action must be taken now, not for Israel's sake, not for the region's sake, but for the world's sake. Stop Iran today."

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said his country’s operation was "entirely in the exercise of Iran’s inherent right to self-defense, as outlined in Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations and recognized by international law."

Iravani said:

"This concluded action was necessary and proportionate," adding that the operation was “precise and only targeted military objectives” to reduce the potential of escalation and to prevent civilian harm. “Iran is never seeking to contribute to the spillover of the conflict in the region, nor does it to escalate or spread the tension to the entire region," he said.

Tehran’s attack had been anticipated since  a suspected Israeli strike  on an Iranian diplomatic complex in Syria earlier this month.

Iravani added Iran has “no intention of engaging in conflict with the US in the region” but warned Iran will use its “inherent right to respond proportionately” should the US initiate a military operation against “Iran, its citizens or its security.”

Israeli war cabinet says it's ready to respond to Iran's attack but delays immediate action. Here's the latest

From CNN staff

The hours-long Israeli war cabinet meeting ended Sunday night without a decision on how Israel will respond to Iran’s missile and drone attack , an Israeli official said.

The cabinet is determined to respond — but has yet to decide on the timing and scope and the official said the military has been tasked with coming up with additional options for a response.

Separately, a senior Biden administration official told reporters that an Israeli official told the United States that it's not looking to significantly escalate the showdown with Iran.

CNN analyst Barak Ravid said Israeli ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot advocated for swift action, but US President Joe Biden's phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led to a decision to delay the response until the next day. 

Here are the latest headlines:

• Retaliation is over, Iran told US: Iran privately messaged the United States that its retaliation against Israel had concluded, echoing what Tehran said publicly, according to a senior administration official. Late Saturday, Iran said its attack on Israel is a response to Israel's strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, and "the matter can be deemed concluded." However, President Ebrahim Raisi said any “new aggression against the interests of the Iranian nation will be met with a heavier and regrettable response,” according to Iran’s state news channel IRIB. 
• United Nations response: UN Secretary-General António Guterres  called for a de-escalation of violence after Iran’s attack. Guterres said the United Nations and member countries have a “shared responsibility” to engage “all parties concerned to prevent further escalation.” He also called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. “Neither the region nor the world can afford more war,” he said.
• G7 and others: Amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in response to Iran's attack, the G7 nations said they would work together to "stabilize the situation" in the Middle East, according to a statement from Biden. Also, Jordan summoned Iran's ambassador in Amman on Sunday after it intercepted Iranian drones over the country.
• Meanwhile in Gaza: As thousands of Palestinians were turned away from returning to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday, a 5-year-old girl was shot in the head by Israeli soldiers, her mother said. Video showed a man carrying a 5-year-old girl named Sally Abu Laila, who was bleeding from her head, with people crowding around her in panic trying to cover her wound.

Also on Sunday:

• Israel decided to lift its restrictions on large gatherings and to reopen schools on Monday.
• The US Department of Homeland Security has not identified any “specific or credible threats” to the US since Iran attacked Israel.

Blinken calls Turkish, Egyptian, Jordanian and Saudi counterparts following Iran's attack 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday spoke with his counterparts in Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia following Iran's attacks in Israel, according to readouts from the State Department. 

During his phone calls, Blinken emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation in the region and the importance of "a coordinated diplomatic response."

In his conversation with Jordan and Egypt, Blinken also underlined the significance of achieving an "enduring end to the crisis in Gaza."

Iran will be held responsible if any action is taken against the US or Israel, deputy ambassador warns

From CNN’s Abel Alvarado

The United States warned Iran against taking any action against the US or Israel during the UN Security Council emergency session over Iran’s attack on Israel.

“Let me be clear, if Iran or its proxies take actions against the US or further action against Israel, Iran will be held responsible,” US Deputy Ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said Sunday.

The United States is “not seeking escalation, our actions have been purely defensive in nature,” adding that the “best way to prevent such escalation is an unambiguous condemnation of the council of Iran’s unprecedented large-scale attack,” he said.

The envoy reiterated US support for Israel and condemned Iran’s attack. “Iran’s intent was to cause significant damage and death in Israel,” Wood said.

Wood also said the UN Security Council had an “obligation to not let Iran’s actions go unanswered.”

“For far too long, Iran has flagrantly violated its international legal obligations,” he said before listing occasions Iran has violated UN Security Council resolutions and international law.

Wood accused Iran of being in a “broad sense complicit” of the October 7 attack on Israel by providing “significant funding and training for the military wing of Hamas.”

He added the US will explore "additional measures to hold Iran accountable here in the UN.”

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Nigel Huddleston MP

Nigel Huddleston was appointed Financial Secretary to the Treasury on 13 November 2023.

He was previously Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade from 7 February 2023 to 13 November 2023, Government Whip (Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury) from 20 September 2022 to 7 February 2023, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade from 30 October 2022 to 7 February 2023, and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 14 February 2020 to September 2022.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury

The financial secretary to the treasury (fst) is responsible for:.

• Direct, indirect, business, property, and personal taxation (except for taxes covered by EST and XST )
• European and other international tax issues
• Customs and VAT at the border
• The Finance Bill and the National Insurance Bill
• Trade policy: goods, including tariffs
• Departmental Minister for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the Valuation Office Agency, and the Government’s Actuary’s Department
• Tax administration policy
• Input to Investment Zones and Freeports focussing on tax and customs elements
• Overall responsibility for retained EU Law and Brexit opportunities

More about this role

HM Treasury

Previous roles in government

• 2023 to 2023
• 2022 to 2023
• 2020 to 2022
• 2019 to 2021

Announcements

Subscriptions.

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• 14 March 2024
• Press release
• 11 January 2024
• 03 January 2024
• 01 January 2024
• 20 December 2023
• 13 December 2023
• 29 November 2023
• 08 November 2023
• 03 November 2023
• Policy paper

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