About: UK
Half of UK digital exports go to the EU, government data reveals
Almost half of the UK's digital exports go to the European Union, recently published UK government figures have revealed, amid growing concerns in the tech industry ahead of the country's scheduled departure from the EU at the end of 31 October.
Chinese intervention in Hong Kong would be a ‘catastrophe’, Patten says
Hong Kong’s last British governor Chris Patten on Tuesday (13 August) cautioned that if China intervened in Hong Kong it would be a catastrophe and that Chinese President Xi Jinping should see the wisdom of trying to bring people together.
Trump security adviser to urge tougher UK stance on Iran and China
John Bolton, US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, arrived in London on the weekend for talks at which he is expected to urge Britain to toughen its stance on Iran and Chinese telecommunications firm Huawei.
It’s up to EU to avoid no-deal Brexit, says UK foreign minister
Britain's foreign minister on Thursday (8 August) pressed the European Union to amend the terms of Britain's EU withdrawal agreement, saying Brussels would have to take responsibility for a no-deal Brexit if it does not compromise.
US, Britain back rapid trade deal post-Brexit
The top US and British diplomats said Wednesday (7 August) they were prepared to move "as soon as possible" on a trade deal after Britain's planned withdrawal from the European Union on 31 October.
British ministers in US to ‘fast-track’ post-Brexit trade deal
Britain was seeking to fast-track a crucial post-Brexit trade deal with the United States on Wednesday (7 August) after new Prime Minister Boris Johnson dispatched his top diplomat and foreign trade minister to Washington.
Johnson faces UK election test as Brexit battle looms
Britain's Boris Johnson faces his first test at the ballot box Thursday (1 August) in a by-election that could reduce his parliamentary majority to one, making it harder to enact his Brexit plan.
EU Commissioner likens new UK PM Johnson to Boris Yeltsin
The UK's new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, shares "a way of doing politics" with the former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, including offering "many unrealistic promises, ignoring economic rationales and rational decisions," European commissioner for health Vytenis Andriukaitis has said.
Sturgeon: Scotland has “profound concerns” about new UK PM Johnson
The appointment of Boris Johnson as the United Kingdom's prime minister has sparked worry in Scotland, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she has "profound concerns about the prospect of his premiership."
Ren Zhengfei: ‘Very likely’ Huawei products will be used in UK core 5G networks
Huawei 5G equipment will most probably be used in core aspects of the UK's future 5G network infrastructure, the founder of the Chinese telecommunications giant, Ren Zhengfei has said. His claim runs contrary to the previous stance held by the UK cabinet, which was to permit the company access only to 'non-core' aspects of the country's 5G networks.
Cables reveal how Britain tried to turn France against the euro in the 1990s
British diplomats tried to establish a "very private link" with former French president Jacques Chirac with the "unavowed aim" of exposing him to the risks of a European currency union, declassified documents revealed Thursday (17 July).
Iran condemns detention of oil supertanker in Gibraltar
Iran on Thursday (4 July) condemned the "illegal interception" of one of its oil tankers in Gibraltar where authorities said they suspected it was carrying crude to Syria in violation of EU sanctions.
UK PM frontrunner Boris Johnson summoned to court for Brexit ‘lies’
The favourite to be the next UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, has been ordered to defend himself in court after a district judge ruled that he should answer for his infamous, and oft-disputed, claim that the UK sends £350 million a week to the EU.
Huawei: US founding fathers would be ‘alarmed’ with Trump administration
The US founding fathers would be ‘alarmed’ by the recent actions of the Trump administration to restrict access to the American market for Chinese businesses, Huawei’s EU chief, Abraham Liu, said on Tuesday (21 April).
EU backs cyber sanctions regime, following Dutch and UK pressure
Under new EU rules, individuals and groups conducting cyber-attacks from outside the bloc may be hit with potential sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes. But the measures announced on Friday will be applied only to "persons and entities" and not to national governments.
Theresa May fires defence secretary over Huawei leak
British Prime Minister Theresa May fired her defence minister on Wednesday (1 May) over a leak of discussions in the National Security Council about Chinese telecoms company Huawei, the latest of her allies to be ousted from government.
Farage’s Brexit Party spends big on Facebook ads
The Brexit Party of arch-eurosceptic Nigel Farage outspent both the Labour and Conservative Parties on political advertising ahead of the European elections during the Easter break, according to data published by Facebook.
UK cyber boss downplays threat of Five Eyes security rift over Huawei
The head of Britain’s cyber centre said governments in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance had not always been aligned over Huawei, downplaying any threat of a rift as the UK prepares to give the Chinese company access to 5G networks.
UK, Dutch spy agencies curb intel flow to Austria over Russia ties
British and Dutch spy agencies have heavily restricted the amount of intelligence they share with Austria, mainly because of ties between the ruling far-right Freedom Party and Russia, an Austrian opposition lawmaker said on Tuesday (9 April).
UK will become ‘Trojan horse’ inside EU, British MP threatens
The UK will become a “trojan horse” inside the EU should the country fail to withdraw from the bloc, prominent Pro-Brexit MP Mark Francois has claimed.
Gibraltar is a ‘colony,’ MEPs say
MEPs in the European Parliament's justice committee have backed a regulation that refers to the British Overseas Terrority Gibraltar as a 'colony.' The main purpose of the text put forward by the EU member states is to offer visa-free access to the EU for UK citizens after Brexit, but has caused controversy over its choice of language.
EU tells Britain to reclaim illegal tax breaks offered to multinationals
A preferential UK tax scheme designed to attract multinational companies partially violated EU state aid rules, the European Commission concluded on Tuesday (2 April), calling on British authorities to recover the undue tax breaks, only a few days away from Brexit.
May gets ‘legally binding’ assurances on backstop from last-ditch Strasbourg trip
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has secured "legally binding" assurances to her Brexit plans in a bid to win over Brexit rebels in the House of Commons, a day before a meaningful vote takes place amongst MPs.