Europe – Western Europe

Sunak delays UK petrol car ban, seeking voter support on climate

By Kate Holton and William James Sunak delays petrol car ban by 5 years Eases targets on heating, insulation Says UK is committed to overall 2050 net zero target Businesses…

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Belgium considers supplying F-16s to Ukraine, PM says

Sept 21 (Reuters) - Belgium is considering whether to supply its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. Belgium is replacing its F-16s with F-35 fighter…

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London’s Tube network faces more strikes next month

LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - London Underground rail staff will go on strike on Oct. 4 and 6 in a long-running dispute over job security and safety concerns, the RMT…

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Facing ‘torrent of theft’, UK retailers press for police action

By James Davey LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - A coalition of British retail industry groups and shopworkers union USDAW has written to police leaders in England and Wales calling on…

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Former London mayor Ken Livingstone has Alzheimer’s

Ken Livingstone, the former mayor of London, is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, his family has announced. The one-time figurehead of the Labour Left is being “well cared for by his…

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UPDATED: UK signals green policy delays to not ‘bankrupt the people’

Sunak to set out climate plan this week Targets on cars, heat pumps could change Car industry angry with the move By Kate Holton and Sarah Young LONDON, Sept 20…

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War crimes tribunal ICC says it has been hacked

By Toby Sterling and Stephanie van den Berg THE HAGUE, (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court (ICC) said its computer system had been hacked, a breach at one of the…

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King Charles and France’s Macron hope to build on personal bond post Brexit

After flames engulfed France's Notre-Dame cathedral in 2019, Britain's future King Charles III sat down to write to President Emmanuel Macron, describing his heartbreak and offering his help and advice…

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Germany kicks off autumn COVID vaccine campaign targeting high-risk groups

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany on Monday launched its autumn vaccination campaign to prevent respiratory infection, promoting an updated COVID-19 booster shot only for the elderly or for people at high…

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UK launches search for private investment in nuclear project

Britain has launched a search for private investment in the Sizewell C nuclear project, inviting potential investors to register their interest. The building of the plant by French energy giant…

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UK competition regulator lays out AI principles

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Britain's competition regulator proposed principles to govern new artificial intelligence (AI) models on Monday, including accountability, access and transparency, as it seeks to foster competitive…

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Germany backs plan for naval, aerial operation to control Mediterranean migration crisis

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has said she supports the proposal to expand air and naval surveillance of the EU's external borders that was part of the 10-point plan on…

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Liz Truss defends brief spell as PM a year after Downing Street exit

Former prime minister Liz Truss on Monday delivered a speech at the Institute for Government. Herfirst major speech on the economy since leaving office. It is a year on since…

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Photo Story: Last Generation climate activists block roads in Berlin

Police officers carry an activist of the Last Generation climate activism group from a street in Berlin, Germany. According to the climate activists, they will again start blocking streets at…

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UPDATED: UK opposition leader Starmer vows to improve Brexit deal

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - British opposition leader Keir Starmer has promised to improve the country's trading relationship with the European Union in 2025 if his Labour Party wins the…

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Man charged after climbing into Royal Mews by Buckingham Palace

LONDON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - A man has been charged with trespassing after being arrested in the early hours of Saturday morning climbing into the Royal Mews adjacent to Buckingham…

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Rising ammunition prices set back NATO efforts to boost security -official

By Gwladys Fouche and Sabine Siebold OSLO, (Reuters) - A top NATO military official warned that a drastic rise in ammunition prices means that allies' higher defence spending does not…

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Photo Story: The Oktoberfest 2023 kicks-off in Munich

People in colourful clothing participate in a parade during the 188th edition of the Oktoberfest beer and amusement festival in the German Bavaria state's capital of Munich, Germany, 17 September…

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British phone shops brace for spike in robberies as iPhone 15 goes on sale

Mobile phone retailers are preparing for a spike in organised robberies when Apple's new iPhone 15 goes on sale next week. Thefts involving a group of people targeting a shop…

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Belgium to help train Ukrainian F-16 pilots

This collaboration, spearheaded by the Netherlands and Denmark, aims to deliver F-16 fighter-bombers to Ukraine and cultivate a workforce skilled in operating them, Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced. Since the…

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China trying to headhunt British nationals in key positions, UK says

By Andrew Macaskill and Kylie Maclellan LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Chinese spies are targeting British officials in sensitive positions in politics, defence and business as part of an increasingly…

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UK to ban American XL bully dogs by the end of the year

LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday American XL bully dogs would be banned by the end of the year, saying the animals were…

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Global climate protests demand world leaders phase out fossil fuels

Protests planned in 54 countries this weekend Organisers seek post-COVID return to mass actions Demand rapid phaseout of fossil fuels Countries to consider phaseout at COP28 summit By Kate Abnett…

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Theresa May says her Brexit deal was better than Boris Johnson’s

Years after being ousted from office, former British PM Theresa May took a fresh potshot at her longstanding Tory nemesis and successor Boris Johnson, saying Johnson struck a “bad deal”…

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Labour plans anti-terror style crackdown on illegal migration

LONDON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - British opposition leader Keir Starmer said on Thursday a Labour government would set up a new police unit to tackle illegal migration and suggested he…

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UK grocery inflation cools to lowest level in a year

British grocery inflation eased to its lowest level in a year heading into September, industry data showed on Tuesday, providing some relief for consumers hurt by high prices and for…

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UK man, accused of spying for China in parliament, says he’s innocent

A researcher in Britain's parliament denied he was a Chinese spy on Monday, saying he was 'completely innocent' of media allegations of working for Beijing and had only ever tried…

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UK’s Hunt to focus on reducing inflation in November budget update – Bloomberg

British finance minister Jeremy Hunt will focus his Nov. 22 budget update on reducing inflation and does not expect forecasts to show the government has extra money to spend, he…

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Dutch police detains 500 activists on second day of climate protests

AMSTERDAM, Sept 10 (Reuters) - Dutch police on Sunday said more than 500 climate activists had been detained on a second consecutive day of protests against government subsidies for the fossil fuel…

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Germany’s wind power expansion stalls on the roads

By Riham Alkousaa BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's wind power expansion is facing an unexpected roadblock: builders need permits to transport the heavy turbines down the country's roads, and they are…

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Terror suspect Daniel Khalife arrested

British Metropolitan police have announced that fugitive Daniel Khalife has been arrested The police search was centred on Chiswick in west London. Detectives have offered £20,000 as a reward in…

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German parliament passes law to phase out gas and oil heating

By Riham Alkousaa and Christian Kraemer BERLIN, (Reuters) - Germany's lower house of parliament passed a bill on Friday on phasing out oil and gas heating systems after months of…

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Offshore wind drops out of UK auction on costs, risking climate goals

By Nora Buli Zero offshore capacity awarded in latest auction Awards for all renewables 3.7 GW versus 11 GW in 2022 auction Price cap for offshore wind bids lowered from…

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UK prepares for what could be hottest day of the year so far

With temperatures looking set to top 30C today, the NHS has reported a surge in Brits seeking advice on heat exhaustion. On Thursday, the Met Office recorded the hottest day…

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‘Pipigate’ peeing scandal puts Belgian minister in hot water

By Geert De Clercq BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - Belgium's justice minister had not been aware that three of his friends had urinated against a police vehicle during a party at his…

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England confirms 34 COVID cases linked to highly mutated variant – UKSHA

Sept 8 (Reuters) - UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) said on Friday that 34 COVID-19 cases linked to the highly mutated variant BA.2.86 had been identified in England. The Omicron…

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King Charles thanks public for their ‘love’ as he marks death of late mother, Queen Elizabeth

By Michael Holden LONDON, Sept 8 (Reuters) - King Charles on Friday thanked the public for their "love and support" on the first anniversary of the death of his mother…

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Prince Harry back in Britain on anniversary of queen’s death

LONDON, (Reuters) - Prince Harry paid tribute on Thursday to the late Queen Elizabeth as he returned to Britain to attend an awards ceremony a day before the first anniversary…

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King Charles: How has the British Monarch done in his first year of rule?

By Michael Holden Year after he came to throne, Charles dials down campaigning Andrew scandal, family rifts still prevail Royal journalist says reign has gone well Polls show mixed views…

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UK will not change immigration policy to secure India trade deal – PM’s spokesperson

LONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Britain has no plans to change its approach to reducing net migration in order to help secure a free trade deal with India, the spokesperson…

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Big manhunt in the UK for suspected terrorist who escaped from prison

A suspected terrorist who escaped from prison by clinging to the underside of a delivery truck is feared to be attempting to flee the UK on Wednesday night. A huge…

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Photo Story: Ryanair CEO Micheal O’Leary hit with cream pie in Brussels

Activists throw cream pie on Ryanair CEO Micheal O'Leary as he is on his way to deliver the 'Protect Overflights: Keep EU Skies Open' petition to EU Commission President, Ursula…

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UK university staff to strike for 5 days later this month

LONDON, (Reuters) - Staff at 140 universities across Britain will take five days of strike action later this month in a long-running dispute over pay and working conditions, the University…

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Britain rejoins EU’s Horizon science programme with ‘bespoke’ agreement

LONDON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Britain announced on Thursday it would rejoin the European Union's flagship Horizon science research programme in a "bespoke" new agreement after a post-Brexit dispute, but…

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Germany plans streamlined construction approvals, citizen services

BERLIN, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Germany's government on Wednesday announced plans for a raft of measures designed to stimulate the economy by reducing bureaucracy, speeding up approval processes for new…

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UK air traffic meltdown ‘one in 15 million’ event -NATS

LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - An air traffic meltdown that hit Britain last week was caused by a "one in 15 million" event, the boss of traffic control provider NATS…

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August was hottest ever recorded, third straight month to set record

AMSTERDAM, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Last month was the hottest August on record globally, the third straight month in a row to set such a record following the hottest ever…

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Leicester City crash failure was ‘irrecoverable’ by pilot -final report

By Jamie Freed Sept 6 (Reuters) - It was not possible for the pilot to recover from the tail rotor failure on the helicopter that crashed and killed Leicester City…

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UK to declare Russia’s Wagner a terrorist organisation

LONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The Russian mercenary Wagner Group is set to be proscribed as a terrorist organization by the British government, the interior ministry said on Wednesday. A…

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Shots fired at Germany’s Wuppertal central station, no injuries -police

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Shots were fired at Wuppertal's main train station in Germany on Tuesday evening with no indication of injuries, according to a police statement. One of the alleged…

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UK’s opposition Labour leader reshuffles top team before election

Britain's opposition Labour leader, Keir Starmer, launched a reshuffle of his top team on Monday to fight a national election expected next year, appointing his deputy Angela Rayner as the…

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German Chancellor Scholz sports eye patch after jogging accident

BERLIN, Sept 4 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz joked that he was eagerly awaiting social media reaction after an official photograph released on Monday showed him wearing an eye…

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UK Labour’s deputy leader appointed levelling up policy chief

LONDON, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Opposition Labour's deputy leader, Angela Rayner, was appointed on Monday as the British party's levelling up policy chief and will 'shadow' the government's deputy prime…

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Dutch Interior Minister Bruins Slot set for foreign ministry

THE HAGUE, Sept 4 (Reuters) - Dutch Interior Minister Hanke Bruins Slot is set to become the new foreign minister in a caretaker government after her predecessor stepped down to…

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UK’s Labour Party has 14-point lead over Conservatives

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's opposition Labour Party has a 14-point lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservatives, an opinion poll by market research company Opinium showed this weeekend as…

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UK had eighth warmest summer on record – Met Office

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has experienced its eighth warmest summer since 1884 thanks to record-breaking June temperatures, the country's national weather service said. The Met Office said the average mean…

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Church of England parishes close at record rate

The Church of England has been “dealt a death knell” as parishes close at a record rate, a Telegraph investigation has revealed. Almost 300 have disappeared in the past five…

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