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Added on the 30/05/2020 17:38:34 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak addresses the wrongful conviction of more than 700 people who ran post offices between 1999 and 2005, saying that the government will do "everything we can do make this right". The prosecutions for theft and false accounting have received new attention following a new television drama about one branch manager's fight for justice. The Post Office began installing Horizon IT software made by Fujitsu in the late 1990s, but flaws in its programming showed up deficits in branch accounts. Postal service executives, refusing to acknowledge problems with the software, forced workers to repay the shortfalls. Some were imprisoned or left out of pocket, while others failed to find other jobs and lost their homes. Speaking at an event in Lancashire, the prime minister says "it's simply wrong what happened" and that new efforts are being made to hurry pardons and compensation for those who have not yet received them. SOUNDBITE
Britain's economy will rebound this year and not shrink as initially thought, but will grow far less than expected next year, finance minister Jeremy Hunt says as he presents his Autumn Statement to parliament. Gross domestic product will expand 0.6 percent in 2023, Hunt said citing the Office for Budget Responsibility fiscal watchdog, upgrading its prior forecast of minus 0.2 percent. GDP is then set to grow by 0.7 percent in 2024, which was sharply down from previous guidance for a 1.8-percent expansion. SOUNDBITE
During a speech at the annual Conservative Party conference, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says "we shouldn't get bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be", as he kickstarts his party's campaign a general election expected next year. SOUNDBITE
UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, meets with the Crown Prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, at 10 Downing Street. IMAGES
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) Jeremy Hunt makes the traditional appearance with the Secretary of State's red box as he leaves 11 Downing Street to deliver his first budget to Parliament. The budget is expected to include more help on soaring energy bills and childcare costs, but the government is set to stand firm on rising public sector pay demands as the country endures a fresh wave of strikes. On Wednesday, teachers, civil servants, junior doctors, BBC journalists and London Tube drivers all walked out with UK inflation remaining above 10 percent. IMAGES
Supporters of Zambian President Lungu hold a rally in Lusaka during a tense presidential race, which has been marked by clashes between rival supporters. The presidential election will take place on Thursday. IMAGES.