Tag: UK

URGENT: Controlled explosion being carried out near Manchester venue blast: police

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — A controlled explosion is being carried out in an area near the Manchester Arena venue, where a suspected blast killed 19 people and injured 50 more, police in the northern British city said on Tuesday. “There will be a controlled explosion in Cathedral Gardens shortly if you hearing anything don’t be concerned,” police said on Twitter, referring to a small park opposite the concert venue. But a second tweet said: […]

19 people killed, 50 injured after blast in Ariana Grande concert venue in UK

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) — Nineteen people have been killed and around 50 others injured following a suspected explosion in Manchester Arena that is being treated as a terrorist incident, police in the northern English city said on Tuesday. “So far 19 people have been confirmed dead, with around 50 others injured. This is currently being treated as a terrorist incident until police know otherwise,” police said in a statement. British police said early Tuesday […]

UK police say “serious incident” at Ariana Grande gig – Twitter

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (Reuters) — A witness who attended the venue in the northern English city of Manchester where U.S. singer Ariana Grande had been performing said she felt a massive explosion as she was leaving the concert. “We were making our way out and when we were right by the door there was a massive explosion and everybody was screaming,” Catherine Macfarlane told Reuters. “It was a huge explosion – you could feel it […]

England’s emergency units open ‘as normal’ again after cyber attack

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Accident and emergency units in England were nearly back to normal on Tuesday, the National Health Service (NHS) said, after the last restrictions put in place following the global cyber attack were lifted. “Patients are no longer being diverted away from hospital accident and emergency units,” Anne Rainsberry, NHS England’s national incident director, said in a statement. “While there is still some disruption in a small number of areas, most […]

UK firm says fusion on the grid by 2030; Skeptics disagree

OXFORD, United Kingdom (Reuters) — A British fusion reactor, the ST40, has been turned on and officially achieved first plasma, says the company behind it – Tokamak Energy. The firm, based in Oxfordshire, aims to produce a record-breaking plasma temperature of 100 million degrees – seven times hotter than the center of the Sun and the temperature necessary for controlled fusion. Tokamak Energy, one of the world’s leading private fusion energy ventures, says it believes […]

Scottish lawmakers back independence on eve of Brexit

by Mark MCLAUGHLIN / Rosie SCAMMELL Agence France-Presse EDINBURGH, United Kingdom – Scotland’s parliament voted Tuesday to back First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a second independence referendum, another headache for Prime Minister Theresa May as she battles to keep the country united just a day before triggering Brexit. The vote by lawmakers in Edinburgh was 69 in favour and 59 against despite May’s last-minute appeals. “I hope the UK government will respect the will of […]

UK targets WhatsApp encryption after London attack

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — The British government said Sunday that its security services must have access to encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp, as it revealed that the service was used by the man behind the parliament attack. Khalid Masood, the 52-year-old Briton who killed four people in a rampage in Westminster on Wednesday before being shot dead, reportedly used the Facebook-owned service moments before the assault. Home Secretary Amber Rudd told Sky News […]

Scotland takes a step towards new independence vote

by Mark McLAUGHLIN with Robin MILLARD in London Agence France-Presse EDINBURGH, United Kingdom – Scotland’s announcement on Monday that it will begin preparations for a new independence bid raised the spectre of one of Brexit’s most feared consequences — the break-up of the United Kingdom. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would seek the semi-autonomous Scottish parliament’s authority next week to ask the UK government in London for the powers to hold a referendum before Brexit […]

As Brexit looms, Britain forecasts strong economy

by Roland JACKSON Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom – Britain’s economy will grow far stronger than expected this year, finance minister Philip Hammond said in a budget update Wednesday, as the government prepares to trigger Brexit. Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to activate Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty in the next three weeks, sparking a painful two-year divorce process — and tense talks over the terms of Britain’s departure from the […]

Immigration agents nab UK’s most wanted con man in Pampanga

Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested a British con man who is on the top 10 list of the most wanted swindlers in the United Kingdom. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said operatives from the Bureau’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) arrested on Friday Adam James Stagg, 30, at his home along Yellow Papua Street, Don Bosco Compound, Mabalacat City, Pampanga. Morente said Stagg, who is listed seventh in the UK’s ten most wanted list of […]

Britain’s EU ambassador quits before Brexit trigger

by Robin MILLARD with Danny KEMP in Brussels Agence France-Presse LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) – Britain’s ambassador to the European Union resigned on Tuesday, adding uncertainty to the Brexit process less than three months before the UK is due to trigger its departure negotiations. Ivan Rogers, a highly-regarded diplomat who had been due to end his four-year stint in October, stepped down as London prepares to invoke Article 50, which starts a two-year countdown to […]