Latest United Kingdom News

UK puts its defense industry on 'war footing' and gives Ukraine $620 million in new military aid

Apr. 23, 2024 13:53 PM EDT

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The U.K. prime minister said Tuesday the country is putting its defense industry on a “war footing” by increasing defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade, and pledged to send arms worth 500 million pounds ($620 million) to Ukraine. Prime...

Britain's Kensington Palace releases image of Prince Louis to mark his 6th birthday

Apr. 23, 2024 12:19 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Kensington Palace has released a photograph of Prince Louis to celebrate his 6th birthday, the first image by the Princess of Wales it has distributed since news organizations, including The Associated Press, withdrew a photo edited by Kate over concerns about digital manipulation....

A legal challenge over the UK's role in arms sales to Israel will go ahead

Apr. 23, 2024 12:09 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — A legal challenge over the British government's role in allowing weapons to be sent to Israel can be heard at the High Court later this year, a judge said Tuesday. Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq and the U.K.-based Global Legal Action Network filed the...

Aboriginal spears taken by Captain Cook in 1770 are returned to Australia's Indigenous people

Apr. 23, 2024 11:57 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Four Aboriginal spears that were taken to England by Captain James Cook more than 250 years ago were returned Tuesday to Australia's Indigenous community at a ceremony in Cambridge University. The artifacts were all that remain of some 40 spears that Cook and botanist...

More deaths in the English Channel underscore risks for migrants despite UK efforts to stem the tide

Apr. 23, 2024 11:15 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Five more people died in the English Channel on Tuesday, underscoring the risks of crossing one of the world’s busiest sea lanes in overloaded inflatable boats just hours after British lawmakers approved a controversial migrant bill to stop the traffic. The...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces the country is to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by end of decade

Apr. 23, 2024 10:06 AM EDT
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announces the country is to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by end of decade.

5 migrants die while crossing the English Channel hours after the UK approved a deportation bill

Apr. 23, 2024 09:28 AM EDT

PARIS (AP) — Five people, including a child, died while trying to cross the English Channel from France to the U.K., French authorities said Tuesday, just hours after the British government approved a migrant bill to deport some of those who entered the country illegally to Rwanda. ...

UK home secretary to visit Italy to discuss stopping migrants arriving on boats

Apr. 22, 2024 19:07 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Britain's Home Secretary, James Cleverly, is visiting Italy as part of the U.K. government's efforts to crack down on migrants arriving by small boats. Cleverly will meet his Italian counterpart, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, and discuss how Italy and Britain...

UK prosecutors charge 2 men with spying for China, including a parliamentary researcher

Apr. 22, 2024 11:15 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — A former researcher working in the U.K. Parliament and another man have been charged with spying for China, British prosecutors said Monday. Police said Christopher Cash, 29, and Christopher Berry, 32, were charged with “providing prejudicial information to a...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledges that first flights as part of Rwanda deportation plan will leave in 10-12 weeks

Apr. 22, 2024 05:44 AM EDT
LONDON (AP) — UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledges that first flights as part of Rwanda deportation plan will leave in 10-12 weeks.