UK

Mask mandates to tackle Omicron come into force in England

New mask mandates and other measures aimed at curbing the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant came into force in England on Tuesday, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson eyes an…

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France ready to talk about migrants if Britain serious, minister says

France is prepared to talk to Britain about migration if it is ready for serious discussions, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said on Monday, as he urged the UK to "limit"…

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With new Omicron case detected, UK awaits COVID booster advice

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Britain's health minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday he expected to receive advice imminently on whether the government can broaden a booster shot programme to…

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Britain needs French cooperation to tackle Channel migrant crisis, says health minister

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Britain needs French cooperation to curb the flow of migrants from across the English Channel, health minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday, defending a letter…

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British Health Secretary says vaccines may be less effective against Omicron variant

LONDON, Nov 28 (Reuters) - Britain's health minister Sajid Javid said on Sunday he expected to receive advice imminently on whether the government can broaden a booster shot programme to…

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UK battered by Storm Arwen, with three men killed by falling trees

Storm Arwen has battered parts of the UK with gusts of almost 100mph hitting some areas. Three men were killed by falling trees in separate incidents - one died after…

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UPDATE – UK’s Johnson announces measures to fight new COVID variant

LONDON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson unveiled on Saturday new measures to try to stop the spread of a new coronavirus variant called Omicron, saying all…

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Two cases of coronavirus Omicron variant detected in Britain

LONDON, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Two linked cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in Britain connected to travel to southern Africa, health minister Sajid Javid said…

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Immigration to UK slumped in 2020 due to COVID and Brexit

Net immigration to Britain fell by almost 90% last year to its lowest level since 1993 due to the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit, official figures showed this week. The…

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Channel will swallow more migrants heading for Britain, charities say

After 27 people died trying to reach Britain in an inflatable dinghy, charities said the Channel dividing Britain from France was sure to claim more migrants risking everything to flee…

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UPDATED: Britain says likely that new variant has spread beyond South Africa

Britain said on Friday that a newly identified coronavirus variant spreading in South Africa was of huge concern and was considered by scientists to be the most significant one yet…

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UPDATED: France’s Macron tells Britain to ‘get serious’ on Channel migrant crisis

PARIS, Nov 26 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron told Britain on Friday it needed to "get serious" or remain locked out of discussions over how to curb the flow…

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UK crisp shortage eases after earlier supply problems

LONDON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Fewer shops in Britain have shortages of potato crisps this week than the week before, official figures showed on Thursday, in a sign that supply…

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UK risks Christmas alcohol shortage due to lack of drivers

Britain could face a shortage of alcohol this Christmas unless the government steps up its efforts to address a lack of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers, the wine and spirits…

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UPDATED: France’s Macron: Stronger European cooperation needed to deal with human trafficking

ZAGREB, Nov 25 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that stronger European cooperation was needed after 27 migrants died a day earlier when their dinghy deflated as…

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UPDATED: France and Britain seek answers while trading blame after migrant tragedy

PARIS, Nov 25 (Reuters) - France and Britain sought answers on Thursday on how to deter migrants from trying to cross the sea separating them after 27 people died making…

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UK’s Johnson ‘shocked and appalled’ by deaths of migrants in the Channel

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday he was "shocked and appalled" by the deaths of at least 31 migrants in the English Channel…

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British Army to leave Canada after 50 years for new base in Middle East

The British Army is to leave Canada after 50 years, with its biggest training base set to move to the Middle East. The British Army Training Unit Suffield (Batus) in…

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Lidl GB targets 1,100 stores by 2025

LONDON, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The British arm of German discount supermarket chain Lidl on Wednesday set a new target to have 1,100 stores by the end of 2025, creating…

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“Come to your senses”, Germany urges Britain on N.Ireland

Germany urged Britain on Tuesday to come to its senses by respecting its commitments under the Brexit divorce agreement with the European Union and resolve differences over Northern Ireland. London has repeatedly…

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London’s Big Ben to show fresh face to ring in New Year

Big Ben's dials will emerge from a shroud of scaffolding in time for the world famous clock to perform its most important annual role - ringing in the New Year for…

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UK to review COVID travel rules in January, Considering airport slots reform

LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Britain will review its COVID travel rules in January and is looking at reforming its airport slots system as part of a wider new aviation…

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Royals could boycott the BBC over Princes and the Press documentary

The Queen, Prince Charles and Prince William are reportedly threatening to boycott the BBC over a refusal to let them see a documentary about the royals’ relationship with the media.…

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Peppa Pig saves UK PM Johnson when lost for words

LONDON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson was briefly left lost for words on Monday when he lost his place in notes during a speech before regaling…

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UK to require charge points for electric vehicles in new buildings

Charging points for electric vehicles will be required to be installed in new buildings in Britain from next year under new legislation to be announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson,…

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Queen Elizabeth attended family christenings over the weekend

Queen Elizabeth attended a private ceremony to celebrate the christenings of two of her great-grandchildren on Sunday, the British news agency PA reported, four days after the 95-year-old monarch made…

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Photo Story: First major UK exhibition of the German artist Albrecht Dürer in nearly 20 years

A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled 'portrait of a Man' by German Renaissance master Albrecht Durer during a press preview of 'Durer's Journeys: Travels of…

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Tired of rampant graft, Bulgarians vote in presidential election

SOFIA, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Bulgarians are voting on Sunday to choose the country's next president in a run-off election, weary of widespread corruption in the European Union's poorest member…

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UK plans Greek-style clampdown on migrants

Priti Patel is planning a Greek-style crackdown on migrants, with new restrictions on asylum seekers amid an escalating European crisis. Channel migrants held in new purpose-built reception centres will have…

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Russia ‘paying close attention’ to HMS Queen Elizabeth as race to salvage F-35 jet intensifies

The RAF's crashed F-35 jet went down soon after take off, it has emerged as the race to recover the aircraft continues. Defence sources confirmed that since Wednesday’s crash, which…

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Britain seeks ban of single use plastic plates and cutlery in England

LONDON, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Single-use plastic plates and cutlery and polystyrene cups could all be banned in England as the British government seeks to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste,…

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Ryanair drops London Stock Exchange, citing dual listing costs

DUBLIN, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Ryanair gave notice on Friday of its intention to delist from the London Stock Exchange next month, saying the volume of trading did not justify…

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UK police say Liverpool blast device could have caused significant injury and death

LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - A homemade explosive device which blew up in a taxi in Liverpool on Sunday had ball bearings attached that could have caused significant injury and…

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England’s COVID prevalence drops for second week, ONS says

LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The prevalence of COVID-19 infections in England fell back to about 1 in 65 people in the week ending Nov. 13, Britain's Office for National…

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Britain to add booster shots to COVID-19 travel pass

LONDON, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Britain's health ministry on Friday said it would add booster shots to the COVID-19 pass for outbound international travel, though it added they would not…

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Crisps remain in short supply in almost one in three British shops

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Crisps remain in short supply in almost one in three British shops, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics following production difficulties…

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Photo Story: House of Fraser flagship store to close

A general view of the House of Fraser flagship store in London, Britain. House of Fraser flagship store on Oxford Street is set to close its doors for the last…

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UK study suggests Delta subvariant less likely to cause symptoms

LONDON, Nov 18 (Reuters) - A subvariant of Delta that is growing in Britain is less likely to lead to symptomatic COVID-19 infection, a coronavirus prevalence survey found, adding that…

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M&S warns EU proposals on N.Ireland trade risk more friction and cost

British retailer Marks & Spencer warned the UK government that proposals set out by the European Union to ease the transit of goods to Northern Ireland risked increasing the administrative…

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UPDATE -British fighter jet crashes into Mediterranean as pilot ejects

Sky News reports that a British F35 jet from the UK's flagship aircraft carrier has crashed into the Mediterranean while flying and the pilot has ejected in the first such…

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UPDATED: Queen Elizabeth shown standing and smiling at Windsor Castle

LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth, whose health has come under the spotlight after the 95-year-old missed a Remembrance Sunday service, was pictured standing and smiling on Wednesday…

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UK’s Frost says post-Brexit N.Ireland deal possible by Christmas

DUBLIN, Nov 17 (Reuters) - British Brexit minister David Frost said on Wednesday that his government's preference is to strike a deal to improve post-Brexit trade arrangements for Northern Ireland…

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British inflation hits 10-year high, bolstering rate hike bets

LONDON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - British inflation surged to a 10-year high last month, according to data on Wednesday that will bolster expectations that the Bank of England will raise…

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UPDATED: Amazon to stop accepting Visa credit cards issued in UK

Amazon.com Inc said on Wednesday it would stop accepting Visa Inc credit cards issued in the United Kingdom from next year due to the high fees charged by the payment…

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UK police name Liverpool taxi blast suspect

British police have identified the suspect behind an explosion which engulfed a taxi in flames outside a hospital in Liverpool on Sunday, a blast the authorities have declared a terrorist incident. Police say…

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UK to adapt fully-vaccinated definition to account for boosters – PM Johnson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said the definition of fully-vaccinated would have to be adjusted to account for third "booster" COVID-19 shots, although he did not give a time-frame for the move. Fully-vaccinated currently means…

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UPDATE: Counter terror police investigation Liverpool car explosion which left one person dead and one injured

Update : Three men have been arrested by counter-terror police following an explosion outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital. LONDON (Reuters) -One person was killed and another was injured in a vehicle…

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UK ‘unlikely to see catastrophic winter wave’ of Covid-19 that requires Christmas lockdown

The UK is "unlikely" to experience a "catastrophic winter wave" of COVID cases that would require a Christmas lockdown similar to last year, a government adviser has said. Professor Neil…

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UPDATED: The Queen misses Remembrance Sunday service

LONDON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will not attend Sunday's Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph due to a sprained back, Buckingham Palace said, extending the 95-year-old monarch's…

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Johnson’s party loses UK opinion poll lead after sleaze scandal

Boris Johnson's Conservatives have lost their lead in two opinion polls after a growing parliamentary standards scandal prompted almost two thirds of respondents in one survey to say the British…

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What’s in the Glasgow Climate Pact?

Nearly 200 nations agreed to adopt the Glasgow Climate Pact on Saturday after more than two weeks of intense negotiations, with the UK host of the talks saying the deal…

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Britain’s army chief says West at risk of conflict with Russia

There is a greater risk of an accidental war breaking out between the West and Russia than at any time since the Cold War, with many of the traditional diplomatic…

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COP26 climate conference approves revised deal

GLASGOW, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Negotiators closed a deal to settle rules for carbon markets at the U.N. climate summit in Scotland on Saturday, potentially unlocking trillions of dollars for…

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Photo Story: The Courtauld Gallery reopens

Gallery assistants pose with artist Botticelli's painting 'The Holy Trinity with Saints Mary Magdalen and John the Baptist' at the Courtauld Gallery in London, Britain. The gallery is reopening to…

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Russia says British jets escorted its nuclear-capable bombers -Interfax

MOSCOW (Reuters) - British fighter jets escorted two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear-capable bombers on stretches of an hours-long patrol, Russia's Defence Ministry was quoted as saying by Interfax. "Two Tu-160…

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Britain suggests climate funding plan as UN negotiators go into overtime

GLASGOW, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Negotiators took the two-week U.N. climate talks in Scotland into an extra day on Saturday, wrestling with a fresh draft of an agreement intended to…

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Britain’s Queen Elizabeth to make first public appearance on Sunday since hospital stay

Britain's Queen Elizabeth will attend a Remembrance Day Service on Sunday, Buckingham Palace said, in her first public engagement in person since she spent a night in hospital last month…

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