About: United Kingdom
Bulgaria must allow baby of same-sex couple to travel: EU adviser
Bulgaria must find a way to allow the stateless baby of a same-sex couple from Bulgaria and Gibraltar to travel, a legal adviser of EU's top court said Thursday (15 April).
Sleaze scandal infects UK politics amid Covid spending spree
A drip-feed of revelations over the collapse of an opaque financial firm is raising serious questions about cosy ties between UK politicians, civil servants and big business as the government spends lavishly on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.
Pints, shopping and haircuts: English shops and pub gardens reopen as lockdown eases
People queued up outside retailers across England to release their pent-up shopping fever and some grabbed a midnight pint or even an early haircut as England’s shops, pubs, gyms and hairdressers reopened after three months of lockdown.
Britain’s Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth, dies aged 99
Prince Philip, the husband of Queen Elizabeth who played a leading figure in the British royal family for almost seven decades, has died aged 99, Buckingham Palace said on Friday (9 April). The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was officially...
UK calls for end to ‘pernicious’ trade practices, in apparent swipe at China
Britain said it will push G7 allies to do more to ban "pernicious practices" in trade, such as forced labour and intellectual property theft, in an apparent call for a tougher line towards China at the World Trade Organization.
China sanctions UK entities, individuals for Xinjiang ‘lies’
China sanctioned organisations and individuals in the United Kingdom on Friday (26 March) over what it called “lies and disinformation” about Xinjiang, days after Britain imposed sanctions for human rights abuses in the western Chinese region.
EU to tighten export rules to stop one-way flow of vaccines
The European Commission will tighten its export guidelines on Wednesday (24 March) to prevent what it sees as an unfair one-way flow of vaccines, according to a draft seen by AFP.
West hits China with coordinated sanction over Xinjiang abuses
The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada imposed sanctions on Chinese officials on Monday (22 March) for human rights abuses in Xinjiang, the first such coordinated Western action against Beijing under new US President Joe Biden.
UK government’s green homes grant in urgent need of rescue, MPs say
The UK government’s flagship home insulation scheme, intended to kickstart a green recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, has been botched, disastrous in administration, devastating in some of its impacts, and stands in urgent need of rescue, an influential committee of MPs has said. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
UK accuses EU of brinkmanship over vaccine export threat
British foreign minister Dominic Raab accused the European Commission of brinkmanship over its threat to ban exports of COVID-19 vaccines, calling for Commission head Ursula von der Leyen to explain her comments.
Uber grants UK drivers worker status in world first
Uber on Tuesday (16 March) said it is granting its UK drivers worker status, with benefits including a minimum wage – a world first for the US ride-hailing giant.
UK’s Johnson to visit India at end of April as part of policy ‘tilt’
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit India at the end of April in what will be his first major international trip after Britain's exit from the EU as part of efforts to boost UK opportunities in the region.
UK to increase nuclear stockpile
Britain is to announce an increase to its nuclear weapons stockpile as part of a wide-ranging review of security, defence and foreign policy, two newspapers said on Monday (15 March).
Cyprus to let in Brits with COVID vaccine from May 1
Cyprus will allow British tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 into the country without restrictions from May 1, its tourism minister said on Thursday (4 March).
UK fishing sector sees more job losses due to post-Brexit export troubles
Britain could lose more jobs in its fishing sector if the current delays and increased costs involved in exporting to the EU post-Brexit are not ironed out soon, industry groups told British government officials on Tuesday (2 March).
Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents charged with security crime
Dozens of Hong Kong dissidents were charged with subversion on Sunday (28 February) in the largest use yet of Beijing's sweeping new national security law, as authorities seek to cripple the financial hub's democracy movement.
Don’t be selfish – get a COVID shot, says UK’s Queen Elizabeth
Britain’s 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth, who last month had her first COVID-19 vaccination dose, has encouraged the public to follow suit, saying it did not hurt and those who were wary should think of others.
Portugal wants EU defence, security partnership with UK
The European Union should create “broad structures of partnership” with the United Kingdom on defence and security policy, Portuguese defence minister João Gomes Cravinho said on Friday (19 February).
UK says it shares US concerns over WHO COVID-19 mission to China
British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday (14 February) he shared concerns about the level of access given to a World Health Organization COVID-19 fact-finding mission to China, echoing criticism from the United States.
Myanmar faces European push at UN to condemn coup
The United Nations' top human rights body is to consider a resolution on Friday (12 February) drafted by Britain and the European Union that would condemn Myanmar's military coup and demand urgent access for monitors.
AstraZeneca obligation to supply EU with UK-made vaccines exposed
The European Commission's contract with AstraZeneca to supply COVID-19 vaccines includes Britain along with the EU as places where the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker should make its best efforts to manufacture its vaccines for the EU.
Covid-19 vaccine firms must deliver, says EU chief
Companies producing Covid-19 vaccines "must deliver", EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday (26 January) as tensions mounted between her European Commission and pharmaceutical firms over delayed deliveries.
UK condemns Chinese ‘barbarism’ against Uighur minority
Britain on Tuesday (12 January) accused China of human rights violations amounting to "barbarism" against its Uighur minority, as it announced new rules to ban imports of goods suspected of using forced labour.