Tag: UK

• Saturday, November 3rd 2018 - 08:30 UTC

  Backers of Brexit funding campaign investigated for “suspected criminal offences”

  

  Brexit backer Arron Banks is being investigated by the UK’s serious crime agency for “suspected criminal offences” over £8 million of campaign funding during the Brexit referendum.

• Saturday, November 3rd 2018 - 08:24 UTC

  Fracking shale gas flows in UK, but controversy over earth tremors intensifies

  

  Shale gas has flowed for the first time at the UK's only fracking site currently in operation, energy firm Cuadrilla says. Operations began at the Lancashire site in October for the first time since 2011 when it was suspended because of earth tremors. There have been suspensions of the renewed underground drilling operations after further tremors in the area.

• Friday, November 2nd 2018 - 08:18 UTC

  Brussels and London play down speculation about a breakthrough in Brexit talks

  

  Brussels and Downing Street have played down speculation about a breakthrough in Brexit talks. Reports that a Brexit deal could safeguard the City’s access to European Union markets led to an increase in the value of sterling.

• Friday, November 2nd 2018 - 08:13 UTC

  Bank of England leaves rates unchanged but warns on a no-deal Brexit scenario

  

  Bank of England governor Mark Carney has warned interest rates could rise in the event of a no-deal Brexit if a cliff-edge withdrawal sends the pound into free fall. Mr. Carney said there are scenarios where policy “might need to be tightened in the event of a no deal, no transition Brexit”, should a plunge in the value of the pound cause inflation to surge and impact UK production.

• Thursday, November 1st 2018 - 08:28 UTC

  Middle income BOTs hit by natural disasters could have access to OECD aid

  

  British overseas territories hit by natural disasters could get access to foreign aid under plans agreed by the richest nations, according to a report from the BBC. Some Caribbean islands damaged last year by hurricanes did not get official development assistance because their national incomes were too high.

• Thursday, November 1st 2018 - 08:28 UTC

  UK and Canadian lawmakers want to question Facebook's Zuckerberg on “fake news” and disinformation

  

  British and Canadian politicians have joined forces in calling on Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to explain “failures of process” regarding the spread of propaganda on the social network. Leading MPs from both parliaments co-signed a letter to Mr Zuckerberg announcing an “international grand committee” on “disinformation and fake news” to be held at the end of November.

• Thursday, November 1st 2018 - 08:25 UTC

  Shadow Chancellor sets out conditions for Labour's support to a Brexit deal

  

  Brexit deal involving a customs union and a “close” relationship with the single market would win a majority in the Commons and have the backing of business, John McDonnell has said. The shadow chancellor said Labour MPs would vote in favor of a Brexit deal that “protects jobs and the economy” but acknowledged that was “not the way it is at the moment” under Theresa May’s strategy.

• Wednesday, October 31st 2018 - 08:17 UTC

  Foreign Secretary tells Parliament Falklands will remain part of UK, even after Brexit

  

  Britain's foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt told Parliament that the Falkland Islands will remain part of the UK for years to come despite Argentina's plans, after Brexit, to enhance dialogue with the Islanders and hopefully with a positive result for its claim over the Malvinas.

• Tuesday, October 30th 2018 - 08:40 UTC

  UK Budget time: “Austerity coming to an end” announces Chancellor Hammond

  

  Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has said the “era of austerity is finally coming to an end”, in his last Budget before Brexit. He spent a windfall from better public finances on more money for universal credit and bringing forward planned income tax cuts by a year.

• Tuesday, October 30th 2018 - 08:39 UTC

  UK top surgeon proposes dexterity courses for medical students: top grades are insufficient

  

  A professor of surgery says students have spent so much time in front of screens and so little time using their hands that they have lost the dexterity for stitching or sewing up patients. Roger Kneebone, professor of surgical education at Imperial College, London, says young people have so little experience of craft skills that they struggle with anything practical.