Briefly

INDIA

Modi raises embassy security with Sunak

Britain should take action after a violent incident occurred during protests outside India's embassy in London last month, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday. New Delhi has been upset about protests and vandalism by the Sikh community outside the Indian High Commission in London and elsewhere in the United States and Canada. In a telephone conversation with Sunak, Modi called for "strong action" by the British government following the incident, Modi's office said in a statement. Sunak condemned the incident as "unacceptable violence", his Downing Street office said in a readout of the call.

UNITED KINGDOM

Environment Agency workers to strike

Thousands of workers employed by the British government's Environment Agency will begin a third block of strike action in the ongoing dispute over their woeful pay rise, a union representing them said on Friday. In a statement, Unison said it had written to Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt this week, urging him to intervene in the dispute and free up more money so the agency can pay its employees fairly. Thousands of junior doctors in England had a four-day walkout on Tuesday called by the medical professionals' group British Medical Association over pay and working conditions.

JAPAN

Govt approves first legal casino in Osaka

Japan's government said on Friday it had approved a controversial plan to build the country's first legal casino in Osaka, hoping to draw tourists after years of wrangling. The local governments of Osaka and Nagasaki in western Japan have long sought approval to build "integrated resort" facilities combining casinos, convention centers, hotels, restaurants and entertainment venues. The Osaka plan, which aims to open the casino by 2029, was approved after "sufficient examination from various perspectives". Prime Minister Fumio Kishida praised the move, saying the complex would help development in the region.

Agencies Via Xinhua