Latest United Kingdom government News

US aims to create nuclear fusion facility within 10 years, Energy chief Granholm says

Sep. 25, 2023 17:14 PM EDT

VIENNA (AP) — The Biden administration hopes to create a commercial nuclear fusion facility within 10 years as part of the nation's transition to clean energy, U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said Monday. Calling nuclear fusion a pioneering technology, Granholm said...

Britain uses UN speech to show that it wants to be a leader on how the world handles AI

Sep. 22, 2023 20:53 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Britain pitched itself to the world Friday as a ready leader in shaping an international response to the rise of artificial intelligence, with Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden telling the U.N. General Assembly his country was “determined to be in the vanguard.” ...

Governments and individuals debate: Are mandates needed to reach climate change targets?

Sep. 21, 2023 15:48 PM EDT

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. (AP) — Governments, organizations and businesses have set ambitious goals to combat climate change. But it is far from clear that those goals can be met without forcing people to do -- or not do -- certain things. And that is causing some consternation, even among...

UK prosecutors have charged 5 Bulgarians with spying for Russia. They are due in court next week

Sep. 21, 2023 09:41 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — British authorities on Thursday charged five Bulgarians living in the U.K. with spying for Russia. The Crown Prosecution Service said it had authorized charges of conspiracy to conduct espionage against three men and two women. The five — Orlin...

UK leader Rishi Sunak delays ban on new gas and diesel cars by 5 years in contentious climate shift

Sep. 20, 2023 21:36 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Wednesday that he’s delaying by five years a ban on new gas and diesel cars that had been due to take effect in 2030, watering down climate goals that he said imposed “unacceptable costs” on ordinary people. The move angered...

Jimmy Lai's son fears Hong Kong media mogul may die in detention while awaiting trial

Sep. 20, 2023 20:30 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — The son of jailed Hong Kong media mogul and prominent pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai said Wednesday he did not want to see his father die in detention, as his lawyers raised the prospect that his long-delayed trial may be pushed back indefinitely. Sebastien Lai also...

France rolls out the red carpet for King Charles III's state visit

Sep. 20, 2023 17:08 PM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Britain's King Charles III praised France's “wonderful welcome” at a grand dinner held in his honor Wednesday night at the sumptuous Hall of Mirrors of the Palace of Versailles, marking his state visit meant to underline the friendship between both nations. In a...

UK leader Rishi Sunak signals plan to backtrack on some climate goals

Sep. 20, 2023 11:11 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is preparing to water down some of Britain's environmental commitments on Wednesday, saying the country must fight climate change without penalizing workers and consumers. The news drew wide criticism from political opponents, environmental...

UK's new online safety law adds to crackdown on Big Tech companies

Sep. 20, 2023 09:38 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers have approved an ambitious but controversial new internet safety law with wide-ranging powers to crack down on digital and social media companies like TikTok, Google, and Facebook and Instagram parent Meta. The government says the online safety bill...

UK inquiry: Migrants awaiting deportation are kept 'in prison-like' conditions at a detention center

Sep. 19, 2023 12:11 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — A British inquiry reported Tuesday that migrants awaiting deportation suffered physical and verbal abuse at a government-run detention center, and recommended that no one be kept in such “prison-like” conditions for more than 28 days. Inquiry chairwoman Kate Eves...