United Kingdom

Culture news

Ken Loach and Mike Leigh quit cinema over Israeli film festival

Directors Ken Loach and Mike Leigh have resigned as patrons of one of London’s oldest cinemas over a film festival with links to the Israeli government.

24/05/2024

Culture news

George Harrison’s Liverpool childhood home gets blue plaque

A blue plaque honouring Beatles legend George Harrison is being unveiled on Friday at his childhood home in Liverpool – among the first such plaques outside of London.

24/05/2024

Economy

April showers dampen UK retail sales as shoppers stay indoors

The removal of non-food sales, such as furniture, clothing and footwear, was one reason for the disappointing figure.

24/05/2024

Business

Hargreaves Lansdown rejects private equity takeover bid

The UK investment platform says the offer from a group including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority undervalues the firm.

23/05/2024

United Kingdom

UK Prime Minister Sunak announces surprise election on 4 July

In a speech that followed much speculation, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed that the national election will be held on 4 July.

22/05/2024

Culture news

Thousands of Damien Hirst artworks younger than suggested. Again

Damien Hirst's artworks for his controversial 'The Currency' project are the second to be accused of being misleadingly labelled.

22/05/2024

Earth News

UK drivers could save €35 a week by giving up their cars in June

The campaign from Possible highlights practical ways that the British public can tackle climate change.

22/05/2024

Health news

UK MP gets standing ovation in parliament after quadruple amputation

Craig Mackinlay, a 57-year-old MP, nearly died from sepsis and had to have his arms and feet surgically removed.

22/05/2024

Earth News

Shell faces shareholder ‘rebellion’ over climate strategy

The meeting was punctuated by protests from groups calling out Shell’s climate record and alleged actions in the Niger Delta.

22/05/2024

Markets

Citigroup fined millions by UK regulators over ‘fat-finger’ error

Trade monitoring controls at the US investment bank were not robust enough and led to mistakes, explained UK regulators.

22/05/2024

Business

Online car dealer Cazoo crashes into insolvency putting jobs at risk

The troubled online car seller Cazoo had recently cut hundreds of jobs as part of a major programme of restructuring in an attempt to survive.

22/05/2024

Economy

UK inflation slows less than predicted: Is a summer rate cut in doubt?

UK inflation slowed to 2.3% in April 2024, the lowest since July 2021, down from 3.2% in March, but missed the predicted drop to 2.1%. Core inflation, excluding energy, food, alcohol, and tobacco, rose by 3.9% year-on-year, above expectations.

22/05/2024

Business

TfL 'names and shames' London embassies over unpaid congestion charges

Transport for London is planning to go to court to try and get the more-than-£14 million it says the US embassy owes for unpaid congestion charges.

21/05/2024

Economy

Beyond the peak: How has the inflation crisis shaped the UK economy?

UK inflation data due on Wednesday is expected to fall close to the government’s 2% target. Almost three years on from the start of price spikes, how has the economy changed?

21/05/2024

Culture news

The Museum of Homelessness finds a home in North London

Opening to the public on 24 May, the North London museum – for the first time in its own permanent home – is flipping the script on homelessness.

21/05/2024

No Comment

WATCH: Commemorative D-Day coin unveiled

The Royal Mint unveiled a commemorative 50p coin in tribute to Allied troops and veterans on Monday, ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings.

20/05/2024

Healthcare

Inquiry on UK's infected blood scandal slams government failings

The UK prime minister issued an apology in the House of Commons, promising to compensate victims for the government's failings.

20/05/2024

Tech News

London court says Assange can appeal extradition to the US

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has grounds to appeal his extradition to the United States, London's High Court ruled.

20/05/2024

Art

Tate Britain celebrates 400 years of overlooked female artists

The exhibition at Tate Britain showcases trailblazing female artists such as Angelica Kauffman, Artemisia Gentileschi, and Mary Beale.

18/05/2024

Moments

EU Entry/Exit System: Why I’m getting a French passport before October

As a Brit, the introduction of the EES means I’m more desperate than ever to get my French citizenship.

18/05/2024

Earth News

Villagers in England told to boil water as parasite spreads

A water parasite has left at least 46 people sick in this English village.

17/05/2024

Culture news

British Museum recovers 268 more missing artefacts following thefts

The news follows last year's revelation that approximately 2,000 items, including gold and semi-precious stone jewellery, had gone missing.

17/05/2024

Nature

Euroviews. Governments must back plant farming — there's no two ways about it

It’s simple: we need to be doing more to save our only home from the climate change tipping point that scientists keep reminding us we’re hurtling towards, Dr Carys Bennett writes.

17/05/2024

Culture news

Photo London takes over Somerset House

Britain’s biggest photography fair returned to the Thames riverbank this week, welcoming over 120 exhibitors from around the world to London’s historic Somerset House.

17/05/2024

Art

London Craft Week celebrates its 10-year anniversary in style

London Craft Week kicked off this week bringing together over 1000 established and emerging makers and galleries. The festival runs until 19 May 2024.

16/05/2024

Business

UK taxpayers left on hold for 800 years, says spending watchdog

In a damning report, the UK's public spending watchdog - the National Audit Office (NAO) found HM Revenue & Customs' (HMRC) customer service was "in a declining spiral" and had not met its goals for responding to taxpayer correspondence or telephone calls for several years.

16/05/2024