Latest BBC News

Timothy West, acclaimed British actor and lover of UK's waterways, dies at 90

Nov. 13, 2024 19:26 PM EST

LONDON (AP) — British actor Timothy West, who played the classic Shakespeare roles of King Lear and Macbeth and who in recent years along with his wife, Prunella Scales, enchanted millions of people with their boating exploits on Britain's waterways, has died, He was 90. In a...

Britain's leaders likely to face slavery reparations questions at a summit of former colonies

Oct. 24, 2024 11:23 AM EDT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Britain's leaders will likely face uncomfortable questions about reparations for the trans-Atlantic slave trade at a summit of nations it once colonized, after Caribbean leaders said they would thrust the matter into the spotlight at the event in Samoa. ...

UK police say 40 women have made sex crimes claims against late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed

Oct. 11, 2024 11:05 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Police in London said Friday that 40 more women have made allegations of rape or sexual assault against the late Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed since the BBC broadcast claims by several former employees of the London department store last month. The Metropolitan...

British leader Starmer's chief of staff quits over reports about salary

Oct. 06, 2024 10:21 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer 's chief of staff quit on Sunday, citing concerns that growing news reports about her role “risked becoming a distraction to the government.” Sue Gray's resignation came after recent reports about tensions between her and...

Former Harrods boss Al Fayed was a 'monster' who abused young women, lawyers for his accusers say

Sep. 20, 2024 13:11 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Mohamed Al Fayed, the former boss of Harrods, was a “monster’ who raped and sexually abused young women, lawyers representing dozens of his accusers said Friday. The abuse went on through much of Al Fayed's 25-year tenure — from 1985 on — at the helm of the...

UK leader Starmer is facing flak for taking freebies. He says he's done nothing wrong

Sep. 19, 2024 12:45 PM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Less than three months after he was elected on a promise to restore trust in politics, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to shake off criticism over donations from a wealthy businessman and the hefty salary of his most senior aide. The Labour Party leader,...

Former prominent BBC news anchor gets suspended sentence for indecent images of children on phone

Sep. 16, 2024 08:57 AM EDT

LONDON (AP) — Former BBC news anchor Huw Edwards, once one of the most prominent media figures in Britain, was given a suspended prison sentence Monday for images of child sexual abuse on his phone. Edwards, 63, pleaded guilty in Westminster Magistrates’ Court in July to three...

The Navy secretary broke the law by voicing his views on Trump and Biden, a watchdog says

Sep. 05, 2024 17:52 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro broke the law by publicly endorsing the reelection of President Joe Biden and criticizing former President Donald Trump in several statements he made while on official duty overseas, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Thursday. ...