Latest United Kingdom government News

Left behind in Kenya, children of British soldiers struggle to find their identity

Dec. 01, 2024 00:05 AM EST

NANYUKI, Kenya (AP) — Margaret Wandia became pregnant after a week-long relationship with a British soldier training near her community in Kenya. They met while she worked at a bar in her early 20s. She knew little about him. He left her with a biracial child. Now that son is 26,...

British lawmakers give initial approval to a bill to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives

Nov. 29, 2024 13:55 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering. Members of Parliament approved the assisted...

Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales over time

Nov. 29, 2024 00:19 AM EST

BOSTON (AP) — A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have weighed similar “generational...

Bill to legalize assisted dying in England and Wales faces heated parliamentary debate

Nov. 28, 2024 12:45 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers are expected to vote Friday on a law proposed to help terminally ill adults end their lives. The contentious bill would allow adults expected to have fewer than six months to live to request and be provided with help to end their life, subject to...

Former British soldier who broke out of prison is convicted of spying for Iran

Nov. 28, 2024 08:26 AM EST

LONDON (AP) — A former British soldier whose audacious escape from a London prison spurred a dayslong search was convicted on Thursday of spying for Iran. Daniel Khalife, 23, was found guilty by a jury in Woolwich Crown Court on violations of Britain's Official Secrets Act and...

Today in History: November 28, the debut of the Grand Ole Opry

Nov. 28, 2024 00:02 AM EST

Today is Thursday, Nov. 28, the 333rd day of 2024. There are 33 days left in the year. Today is Thanksgiving in the United States. Today in history: On Nov. 28, 1925, the Grand Ole Opry (known then as the WSM Barn Dance) debuted on radio station WSM in Nashville,...

Criminal investigation launched after drones spotted by US Air Force over UK bases

Nov. 27, 2024 15:02 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — A criminal investigation has been launched after the U.S. Air Force reported that drones were spotted flying over English military bases, a British official said Wednesday. The U.S. Air Force reported several incursions occurred in the past week at four bases where...

The UK will consult on sales targets for automakers during the transition to electric vehicles

Nov. 27, 2024 13:08 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s new Labour government will launch a consultation on auto manufacturers' sales targets during the transition to electric vehicles, following the decision by Stellantis, the owner of Vauxhall, to close its van factory in southern England at the potential cost of 1,100...

Albanian opposition leader facing corruption charges is released from house arrest

Nov. 27, 2024 08:40 AM EST

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — An Albanian court on Wednesday released from house arrest former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who leads the opposition Democratic Party and is charged with corruption. The Special Court for Corruption and Organized Crime, which covers cases involving senior...

Germany's Merkel recalls Putin's 'power games' and contrasting US presidents in her memoirs

Nov. 27, 2024 07:38 AM EST

BERLIN (AP) — Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalls Vladimir Putin's “power games” over the years, remembers contrasting meetings with Barack Obama and Donald Trump and says she asked herself whether she could have done more to prevent Brexit, in her memoirs published Tuesday. ...