World News
The UK government has named senior diplomat Christian Turner as its next ambassador to the United States, Downing Street has confirmed.

Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has issued a formal apology to Japan, China and South Korea after three members of parliament caused international outrage by posting images online in

Antwerp’s Jewish quarter will lose 16 federal police officers currently assigned to its protection from 1 January, mayor Els van Doesburg confirmed on Tuesday during the Play4 talk show
The European Parliament has approved legislation to phase out Russian gas imports, marking a major shift in the EU’s energy policy and efforts to curb Moscow’s influence over the bloc’s
A French court on December 15 sentenced former Congolese rebel leader Roger Lumbala to 30 years in prison for complicity in crimes against humanity committed during the Second Congo

The Louvre Museum closed its doors on Monday, turning away thousands of visitors after staff launched a rolling strike to protest deteriorating working conditions at the Paris landmark, just
Security was heightened in major cities across Europe and the United States on Sunday as Jewish communities marked the start of Hanukkah, following a deadly attack on a holiday gathering

Belarus has released 123 political prisoners, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski and prominent opposition figures, in a deal that saw the United States agree to ease sanctions
British asset manager Aberdeen said on Friday it will acquire the management of nine U.S.-based closed-end funds with total assets of £1.5 billion ($2 billion), as it steps up efforts to expand

Combatting human trafficking and people smuggling was at the centre of UK Development Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman’s three-day visit to Pakistan this week, as both countries deepened
UK News
-
Wes Streeting hails Scotland’s central role in UK defence as billions pledged for military renewal
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has used his first official visit to Scotland in the role to underline the country’s growing importance to Britain’s national security, while highlightingRead More... -
Summer health warning: common medicines can raise the risks from heat and sunlight
People taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines are being urged to take extra precautions during hot weather, as some widely used treatments can increase the risk ofRead More... -
CMA moves to put Aldi and Lidl under the same land rules as Britain’s biggest supermarkets
The Competition and Markets Authority is moving to bring Aldi and Lidl under the same rules governing Britain’s biggest supermarket groups, in a move designed to stop major retailersRead More... -
UK Navy increases surveillance of Russian ships and submarines in British waters
The Royal Navy has stepped up monitoring of Russian military activity around the UK and across the North Atlantic, with warships and helicopters deployed for 21 days during July,Read More... -
London renters get new support as Mayor backs £400,000 crackdown on rogue landlords
Sadiq Khan is stepping up support for London’s private renters, with a £400,000 enforcement fund designed to help tenants understand new legal protections and take action againstRead More...

Culture
-
British Week in Paraguay marks a decade with nine days of culture, food and music
Asunción is preparing for the 10th edition of British Week, a nine-day programme showcasing British culture and connections across Paraguay.Read More... -
Stefan Zweig’s London refuge marked with blue plaque 90 years after Austrian writer fled Hitler
A London address that once offered refuge to one of Austria’s most celebrated writers has been formally marked in honour of Stefan Zweig, the Jewish novelist and essayist who fled theRead More... -
Bloomsbury keeps profit outlook unchanged as AI partnerships boost early-year trading
Bloomsbury Publishing has maintained its full-year financial outlook after reporting a solid start to the new fiscal year, supported by continued income from artificial intelligence licensingRead More... -
Salman Rushdie warns free speech is under threat as London honours his literary legacy
Author Salman Rushdie has warned that freedom of speech is facing growing threats around the world, saying the right to express dissenting views is under increasing pressure even inRead More... -
More than 400 UK towns compete for inaugural Town of Culture title as shortlist nears
More than 400 towns across the UK have entered the race to become the country's first-ever UK Town of Culture, as ministers prepare to unveil a shortlist in the coming weeks.Read More... -
Historic Bayeux Tapestry returns to England after nearly a millennium for landmark exhibition
The British Museum is preparing for overwhelming public interest as tickets go on sale for a once-in-a-generation exhibition featuring the legendary Bayeux Tapestry. The remarkableRead More... -
Universal unveils £5 billion UK theme park project, set to open in 2031
Comcast NBCUniversal has confirmed plans to invest more than £5 billion in building its first-ever European theme park and resort, marking one of the largest entertainment investments in theRead More... -
London gears up for biggest-ever summer of live music as global superstars take over the capital
London is preparing for a landmark summer of live music, reinforcing its status as the world's leading music city with an unparalleled programme of exclusive performances from some of theRead More... -
Eid festival marks 20 years in Trafalgar Square with music, food and family events
London’s annual Eid on the Square celebration will return to Trafalgar Square on Saturday, 30 May, as the popular event marks its 20th anniversary in the heart of the capital.Read More... -
Beatles’ final rooftop performance to be preserved in new London museum
The rooftop where The Beatles staged their iconic final live performance is set to become the centerpiece of a new museum celebrating the legendary band’s legacy.Read More... -
Rare Declaration of Independence to headline landmark exhibition on America’s founding
A major new exhibition marking 250 years since the birth of the United States is set to open this summer, bringing together some of the most important documents from the AmericanRead More... -
Newly released UK archives shed light on early years of Northern Ireland Troubles
Nearly 1,000 previously hard-to-access government records documenting the early years of the Northern Ireland Troubles have been published online, marking a significant step in openingRead More...

British Queen celebrates
Most Read
- Teen held after US woman killed in London stabbings
- Heave-ho Harry! Prince prepares to join the walking wounded in ice trek to North Pole
- Football: Farhad Moshiri adamant Everton deal above board
- "Master of English Style". Interview with Designer Lydia Dart
- Letter to the Financial Times from Lord Mayor Alderman Michael Bear
