United Kingdom

London Fashion Week Kicks off with Boldness and Inclusivity

London Fashion Week kicks off on Thursday evening with the theatrical designs of "queer" designer Harris Reed, launching four days of runway shows in the British capital. This season is a condensed edition marked by several absences. The Anglo-American designer, who is also the artistic director of Nina Ricci, opens the event at the Tate Britain ...

UK's Starmer Says 'US Backstop' Ukraine's Only Defense Against Russia

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday warned that a "US security guarantee" would be the "only way" to prevent Russia from attacking Ukraine again in the event of peace. "I'm prepared to consider committing British forces on the ground alongside others if there is a lasting peace agreement, but there must be a US backstop, because a US ...

UK Says Ready to Send Troops in Ukraine

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was prepared to deploy troops to Ukraine if needed, hours before European leaders meet in Paris on Monday to address Washington's shock policy shift on the war. US President Donald Trump sidelined Kyiv and its European backers last week by calling his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to talk about ...

UK Plans to Ease Syria Sanctions after Assad Fall

The UK plans to ease sanctions on Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, under a new plan announced by the government on Thursday. Still weighed down by heavy international sanctions, the new Syrian government is aiming to persuade Western capitals that the jihadist origins of the rebels that toppled Assad, after 14 years in charge, are ...

Scientists warn of climate threat to chocolate

Climate change drove weeks of crop-withering temperatures last year in the West African countries that underpin the world's chocolate supply, hitting harvests and likely further stoking record prices, researchers said Wednesday. Farmers in the region -- which account for some 70 percent of global cacao production -- have struggled with heat, ...

Five Years On: How Has Brexit Impacted the UK?

Five years after the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union, the repercussions of Brexit remain tangible, with significant effects on several key sectors of the British economy. While some had anticipated a swift recovery, the country still seems to struggle with the challenges that have emerged since this historic turning point. The ...

Elton John and McCartney Warn Against AI Threat to Artists

Two of Britain's leading music icons, Elton John and Paul McCartney, urged the UK government on Sunday to protect creative artists from AI, as ministers consult on changing copyright laws. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is considering overhauling the law to allow AI developers to use creators' content online to help develop their models, ...

Partial Closure of British Museum Following Cybersecurity Breach

The British Museum, one of the world's most renowned cultural institutions, announced on Saturday the partial closure of several galleries after a cybersecurity breach caused by a former contractor. The incident led to the "shutdown" of its IT systems, impacting museum operations. "We are working tirelessly to ensure the museum returns to full ...

Trade Wars, Culture Wars, and Anti-Immigration: Trump's Big Promises

A sweeping deportation program, "drill, baby, drill," and peace for Ukraine: President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to move big and fast when he returns to the White House on Monday. Here is a look at his sensational but frequently vague promises for a second term -- much of them likely to be enacted through executive ...

London's FTSE 100 stocks index hits record high

London's benchmark FTSE 100 index reached an all-time high in early trading Friday, lifted by renewed optimism over the global economy. The index jumped 1.0 percent to 8,475.35 points, slightly surpassing a record achieved in May last year. Around 0900 GMT, it stood at 8,472.67 points. British stocks have been boosted in recent days by a drop ...

UK's Starmer to Ink '100 Year' Accord During Ukraine Visit

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Kyiv on Thursday on an unannounced visit to shore up support for Ukraine after nearly three years of war, officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been holding a flurry of meetings with his country's allies ahead of Donald  Trump's return to the White House next week. Starmer is ...

UK-Iraq London Talks to Mark 'New Era'

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts his Iraqi counterpart Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on Tuesday for talks on trade, security and migration hailed by Baghdad as marking a "new era" for the countries' ties. The Iraqi prime minister's visit to London, during which he will also meet King Charles III, comes more than 20 years after Britain took ...