About: United Kingdom
United Kingdom hopes for a return to Eurovision glory, reverse of Brexit bias
A quarter of a century has passed since the UK last won the Eurovision Song Contest, leading to years of speculation on whether political events such as Brexit crushed their chances of winning, but this year the tables may well turn.
Queen Elizabeth pulls out of parliament opening because of ‘mobility problems’
Britain's Queen Elizabeth will not carry out the opening of parliament on 10 May as the 96-year-old monarch has had a recurrence of mobility issues, Buckingham Palace said, the latest event she will not attend because of her health.
Moscow warns London for provoking Ukraine to strike Russian territory
Russia warned Britain on Tuesday (26 April) that if it continued to provoke Ukraine to strike targets in Russia then there would be an immediate "proportional response".
UK’s Johnson to offer India help to build its own fighter jets
Britain is set to offer India know-how to build fighter jets when the prime ministers of the two countries meet on Friday, as the West tries to wean India away from Russia.
UK and Canada protest Russia’s ‘perverse’ participation in IMF meeting
British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak and his Canadian counterpart Chrystia Freeland walked out of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting in Washington to protest the invasion of Ukraine when Russia's delegate spoke on Thursday (21 April).
British PM Johnson signals visa flexibility with India to win trade deal
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson indicated he was ready to offer more visas to India in return for this year clinching a free-trade deal that could boost annual bilateral trade by billions of pounds.
UK’s €150 million asylum deal with Rwanda set for legal challenge
The UK on Thursday (14 April) unveiled an agreement with Rwanda that will see them send thousands of asylum seekers to the East African country to have their applications processed, but the controversial deal is likely to spark legal challenges.
UK spy chief says Russian soldiers refused to carry out orders in Ukraine
The head of Britain's GCHQ spy service said on Wednesday (30 March) that new intelligence showed some Russian soldiers in Ukraine had refused to carry out orders, sabotaged their own equipment and accidentally shot down one of their own aircraft.
Russian move on Ukraine aid fails at UN Security Council
A Russian-drafted call for aid access and civilian protection in Ukraine that does not mention Moscow's role in the crisis failed at the UN Security Council, with only Russia and China voting yes and the remaining 13 members abstaining.
Ukraine invasion boosts calls for UK politics to tackle Russian cash
From huge donations to political parties and bids for games of tennis with senior ministers, to nominations for peerages, Russian money in British politics has been a recurrent issue for years. But the invasion of Ukraine has intensified calls for...
UK ‘very disappointed’ with India’s stance on Ukraine
Britain is very disappointed with India's stance on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, trade minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said on Thursday (17 March) ahead of the conclusion of a second round of trade talks.
Portugal says question of Abramovich citizenship depends on inquiry
Portugal said on Thursday it would not strip the citizenship of Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich because that measure was not part of EU sanctions against Russian oligarchs, but his nationality status could change depending on an inquiry.
France and Britain trade barbs over treatment of Ukraine refugees in Calais
France and Britain engaged in a diplomatic spat on Sunday (6 March) over the treatment of Ukrainian refugees stuck in the French port of Calais, with UK Interior Minister Priti Patel defending Britain's actions after earlier criticism from France.
Britain sanctions Gennady Timchenko and five banks, Johnson says
Britain on Tuesday (22 February) slapped sanctions on Gennady Timchenko and two other billionaires with close links to Vladimir Putin after the Kremlin chief ordered the deployment of troops to two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine.
Russia masses more troops near Ukraine, US says
Russia is now massing yet more troops near Ukraine and an invasion could come at any time, perhaps before the end of this month's Winter Olympics, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.
Russia says facts ‘bounce off’ Britain’s Truss in tense encounter
Russia's foreign minister accused his British counterpart on Thursday (10 February) of grandstanding and refusing to listen, at a rancorous encounter that highlighted the gulf between them over the Ukraine crisis.
Defiant Putin says West keeps ignoring Russia’s security concerns
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West on Tuesday (1 February) of ignoring Russia's security concerns and deliberately creating a scenario designed to lure it into war.
Anger, reflection as Northern Ireland marks 50 years since ‘Bloody Sunday’
Relatives of 13 civil rights protesters shot dead in Northern Ireland by British soldiers 50 years ago demanded justice on Sunday (30 January), as they commemorated one of the darkest days in modern UK history.
UK vows ‘Brexit Freedoms Bill’ to scrap EU laws
The UK government will introduce new legislation allowing it to change or scrap retained European Union laws, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Monday (31 January) to mark two years since Brexit.
Assange gets chance to take extradition case to UK’s top court
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Monday (24 January) was given the chance to challenge at Britain's highest court a decision allowing him to be extradited to the United States to face 18 criminal charges including breaking a spying law.
UK to warn Russia of Ukraine ‘quagmire’
Russia risks becoming embroiled in a "terrible quagmire" if it invades Ukraine, British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss will warn Friday (21 January) in a speech in Sydney.
UK PM Johnson drops COVID-19 restrictions
People in England will no longer be required to wear face masks anywhere or work from home from next week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, adding that scientists believed a wave of the Omicron coronavirus variant had peaked nationally.
UK PM Johnson faces ‘pork pie’ plot to trigger leadership challenge
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was fighting to shore up his premiership on Wednesday (19 January) amid a revolt by his own lawmakers who are angry over a series of lockdown parties in Downing Street.