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☆ Britain's Sycamore Gap tree felled in 'deliberate act of vandalism'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] General view of the Sycamore Gap tree that was felled, in Northumberland, Britain, September 28, 2023. REUTERS/Lee Smith Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Britain's Sycamore Gap tree, a much-loved landmark whose dramatic silhouette featured in a Hollywood movie and was photographed by tourists from around the world, was cut down overnight in what police called a "deliberate act of vandalism". It was also known as the 'Robin Hood Tree' after featuring in the 1991 film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". "An investigation was immediately launched following this vandalism, and this afternoon we have arrested one suspect in connection with our enquiries." The National Trust, who look after the site alongside Northumberland National Park, said it was "shocked and desperately saddened", while local lawmaker Guy Opperman said everyone was "bereft".

Persons: Lee Smith, Hood, Robin Hood :, Kevin Waring, Guy Opperman, Opperman, Farouq Suleiman, Kylie MacLellan, William James Our Organizations: REUTERS, Police, Northumbria Police, Trust, Thomson Locations: Northumberland, Britain, England, Northumbria

[1/2] Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks at a press conference on public sector pay at Downing Street in London, Britain on July 13, 2023. In a highly unusual late-night statement after reports that he was planning to row back on some of the government’s key green policies, Sunak said he would set out an "important long-term decision" about the country's plans to reach net zero. With a general election looming next year, Sunak sees scaling back some green policies as a way to win over swing voters "ahead of a general election expected next year." It would be a striking reversal for Britain which until recently was a self-proclaimed leader in climate policy. Sunak said successive governments "have not been honest about costs and trade offs" of going green policies.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, HENRY NICHOLLS, Sunak, Boris Johnson's, Michael Gove, Elizabeth Piper, William James, Farouq Suleiman, Andrew MacAskill, Paul Sandle, Timothy Gardner, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Britain's, Downing, British, BBC, Labour Party, Conservatives, Labour, Conservative, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ UK train drivers to strike on Sept. 30, Oct. 4
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

A view of an empty Charing Cross train station during planned strike action in London, Britain May 12, 2023. REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - British train drivers will strike on Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, the ASLEF trade union said on Friday, the latest walkouts in a long-running industrial dispute. ASLEF said there would also be an overtime ban across the network between Sept. 29 and Oct. 6. The strikes will coincide with the ruling Conservative Party's annual conference, which is being held in Manchester from Oct. 1-4. Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; writing by Sarah Young; Editing by Sachin RavikumarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Maja Smiejkowska, ASLEF, Farouq Suleiman, Sarah Young, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: REUTERS, Conservative, Thomson Locations: Charing, London, Britain, Manchester

☆ UK sanctions more Iranian officials to mark anniversary of Mahsa Amini death
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

People protest following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran, in London, Britain October 29, 2022. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Britain on Friday imposed sanctions on four Iranian officials to mark the first anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran's morality police. The sanctions target senior decision makers enforcing Iran's mandatory hijab law and were coordinated with similar moves by the United States, Canada and Australia, Britain's foreign ministry said in a statement. Those sanctioned include Iran's minister for culture and Islamic guidance, his deputy, the mayor of Tehran and an Iranian police spokesman, it added. The sanctions impose a British travel ban on those named, block any of their British assets and prevent UK entities from doing business with them.

Persons: Mahsa, Henry Nicholls, James, Farouq Suleiman, Sachin Ravikumar, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Thomson Locations: Mahsa Amini, Iran, London, Britain, United States, Canada, Australia, Tehran

A British steel industry worker displays a badge on his Tata Steel work clothing during a protest over jobs, pay and conditions of work, outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, June 28, 2023. Britain said Friday's deal would help to safeguard 5,000 jobs, but Tata Steel UK currently employs more than 8,000 people, raising the prospect of 3,000 redundancies, as the lower-carbon electric furnaces are less labour intensive. India-owned Tata Steel had long warned that without government help it could close the Port Talbot site. Britain's steel industry directly employs 39,800 people according to figures released by UK Steel in May, and supports a further 50,000 jobs in the supply chain. The government said Tata Steel UK would now inform and consult with staff and unions.

Persons: Toby Melville, Friday's, Kemi Badenoch, Port Talbot, Sharon Graham, Sarah Young, Farouq Suleiman, Elizabeth Piper, Sachin Ravikumar, Jane Merriman Organizations: Tata Steel, REUTERS, Port Talbot Tata Steel, Tata, Tata Steel UK, Business, Company, European Union, Tata Group, British Steel, UK Steel, Trade, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, steelmaking, India, Talbot, United States, England, British, Scunthorpe, Port Talbot

☆ UK government vows escaped terrorism suspect will be found
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A wanted sign featuring an image of Daniel Abed Khalife, a former soldier who is suspected of terrorism offences, is displayed, near Wandsworth prison which he escaped from, in London, Britain, September 7, 2023. "Daniel Khalife will be found and he will be made to face justice," Alex Chalk, the government's justice minister, told parliament. Police said he was not thought to pose a risk to the wider public but advised people not to approach him. Opposition lawmakers have demanded answers into how he had been able to escape and why he was not being held at a maximum security prison. Reporting by Michael Holden, Farouq Suleiman and Muvija M; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Daniel Abed Khalife, Anna Gordon, strapping, Daniel Khalife, Alex Chalk, Khalife, Chalk, Mark Fairhurst, Michael Holden, Farouq Suleiman, Muvija, Chizu Organizations: REUTERS, London's HMP, Police, Officers, Association, Thomson Locations: Wandsworth, London, Britain, London's, London's HMP Wandsworth, England

☆ UK aviation regulator to review air traffic control failure
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Raphael Satter/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Sept 6 (Reuters) - Britain's civil aviation regulator said on Wednesday it would undertake an independent review of the circumstances surrounding an air traffic control failure last week that caused widespread disruption to flights and left thousands of passengers stranded. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said the review would also consider the response of NATS, the country's air traffic control provider, which has apologised for the failure. Air traffic controllers then closed the system to maintain safety and switched to manual operation to continue service. The CAA, Britain's independent aviation and aerospace regulator, said it had shared analysis this with the government on Monday and outlined its next steps. The regulator said the event was now understood and, if it happened again, should be fixed quickly with no effect to the aviation system.

Persons: Raphael Satter, Rob Bishton, NATS, Mark Harper, Muvija, Farouq Suleiman, William James Our Organizations: REUTERS, Civil Aviation Authority, Interim, CAA, Air, Thomson Locations: London, Stansted, Britain

Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey speaks as he attends a press conference for the Monetary Policy Report August 2023, at the Bank of England in London, Thursday, August 3, 2023. "But I think we are much nearer to it on interest rates on the basis of current evidence." It is expected to raise borrowing costs again later this month, taking Bank Rate to 5.5%. In May, Bailey told the same panel of lawmakers that the BoE was "nearer" to the peak in interest rates. After that, the central bank increased Bank Rate in June and in August.

Persons: Bank of England Andrew Bailey, Alastair Grant, Andrew Bailey, we're, we've, Bailey, BoE, I've, Jon Cunliffe, Cunliffe, Swati Dhingra, Dhingra, Farouq Suleiman, Suban Abdulla, Kylie MacLellan, William Schomberg, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Bank of England, Monetary, Companies Bank of England, Treasury, Thomson Locations: London, British

☆ Britain sets priorities for November global AI safety summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A piece of paper sits on the Colossus machine at Bletchley Park in Milton Keynes, Britain, September 15, 2016. It will focus "on risks created or significantly exacerbated by the most powerful AI systems," the government said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has touted Britain as a global leader in AI regulation, and the government wants to accelerate investment in AI to improve productivity. Tech expert Matt Clifford and former senior diplomat Jonathan Black have been appointed to lead preparations for the summit. The two are rallying political leaders, AI companies and experts ahead of the event, which will be held at Bletchley Park in southern England.

Persons: Darren Staples, Rishi Sunak, Matt Clifford, Jonathan Black, Farouq Suleiman, Paul Sandle, William James Our Organizations: REUTERS, British, Tech, Bletchley, Thomson Locations: Milton Keynes, Britain, England, Hiroshima

More than 1,500 flights were cancelled on Monday - a public holiday in parts of Britain, and one of the busiest travel days as the school holidays draw to close - when air traffic controllers were forced to switch to manual systems due to a technical problem. Ryanair, Europe's biggest airline, would be operating a normal schedule by Wednesday, said boss Michael O'Leary, as he criticised how Britain's National Air Traffic Services (NATS) had handled the situation. Harper chaired a meeting on Tuesday with NATS, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), airlines, airports, trade bodies and Border Force. EasyJet (EZJ.L) said that the knock-on impact meant some flights were cancelled on Tuesday morning. Heathrow Airport, Britain's busiest hub, told passengers to contact their airline before travelling to the airport on Tuesday.

Persons: Maria Ball, Charles De Gaulle, Mark Harper, Michael O'Leary, haven't, O'Leary, Raphael Satter, Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Harper, NATS, Cirium, Sarah Young, Padraic Halpin, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton, Alistair Smout, Alison Williams, Mike Harrison Organizations: British, Ryanair, Europe's, Air Traffic Services, REUTERS, Civil Aviation Authority, CAA, Border Force, Aviation, British Airways, Heathrow, Thomson Locations: Europe, Britain, Liverpool, England, Paris, Edinburgh, London, Stansted, NATS

☆ England to rollout world-first seven-minute cancer treatment jab
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Boxes of Tecentriq from Genentech are seen at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., July 22, 2022. REUTERS/George Frey/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 29 (Reuters) - Britain's state-run national health service will be the first in the world to offer an injection that treats cancer to hundreds of patients in England which could cut treatment times by up to three quarters. The treatment is currently offered by transfusion to NHS patients with a range of cancers, including lung, breast, liver and bladder. NHS England said it expected the majority of around 3,600 patients starting the treatment of atezolizumab every year in England to switch onto the time-saving injection. But added that patients receiving intravenous chemotherapy in combination with atezolizumab may remain on the transfusion.

Persons: George Frey, Dr Alexander Martin, atezolizumab, Marius Scholtz, Genentech, Roche, Farouq Suleiman, Sandra Maler Organizations: Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, REUTERS, Medicines, Healthcare, Agency, Foundation Trust, Roche Products, Thomson Locations: Genentech, Salt Lake City , Utah, U.S, England, West Suffolk

☆ 'Highly likely' Wagner boss Prigozhin dead but no definitive proof yet -UK
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, Aug 25 (Reuters) - There is not yet definitive proof that Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was onboard a plane that crashed with no survivors earlier this week but it is "highly likely" he is dead, Britain's Ministry of Defence said on Friday. "There is not yet definitive proof that Prigozhin was onboard and he is known to exercise exceptional security measures. However, it is highly likely that he is indeed dead," the British ministry said in a defence intelligence update posted on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. "The demise of Prigozhin would almost certainly have a deeply destabilising effect on the Wagner Group. His personal attributes of hyper-activity, exceptional audacity, a drive for results and extreme brutality permeated Wagner and are unlikely to be matched by any successor."

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Dimitry Utkin, Valery Chekalov, Kylie MacLellan, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton Organizations: Britain's Ministry of Defence, Wagner Group, Thomson Locations: Moscow

☆ Rolling Stones fans see signs of new album in local newspaper ad
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform as part of their "Stones Sixty Europe 2022 Tour" at Waldbuehne in Berlin, Germany, August 3, 2022. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 23 (Reuters) - Have the Rolling Stones just announced the release of a new album? “The Rolling Stones are poking fun at themselves,” read one message on the Facebook fan page The Rolling Stones Sessions. Last year, The Rolling Stones marked their 60th anniversary with a European tour, covering 10 countries including Britain. An album by the Rolling Stones featuring new original music would be their first since 2005's "A Bigger Bang".

Persons: Mick Jagger, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Lisi Niesner, ”, Jack Q Frost, Farouq Suleiman, Paul Sandle, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Hackney Gazette, Universal Music, Thomson Locations: Waldbuehne, Berlin, Germany, London, Hackney, Britain

That has drawn fury from climate protesters who have stepped up their campaigns, disrupting high-profile sporting events, classical music concerts and political speeches. loadingPictures posted online by Greenpeace UK on Thursday showed four protesters atop the property in Yorkshire, northern England, covering it in swathes of black fabric, while a banner read "RISHI SUNAK - OIL PROFITS OR OUR FUTURE?" Around two hours later at 11:00 BST (1000 GMT), four protesters were still on the roof with a sign saying "NO NEW OIL." Greenpeace said they were protesting the government's backing for new North Sea oil and gas licences and a proposed development of Equinor's (EQNR.OL) Rosebank oilfield, which is subject to a final investment decision. "We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist," Greenpeace UK said.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Rishi, Read, Sunak, YouGov, Vladimir, Putin, William James, Farouq Suleiman, Kate Holton, Giles Elgood Organizations: Greenpeace, British, Greenpeace UK, Wednesday . Police, Sunak's Conservative, Thomson Locations: Yorkshire, England, Britain, California, Ukraine, Sunak's

☆ Russia criticises UK sanctions on officials involved in Kara-Murza trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Police officers respond, after Protest group 'Led by Donkeys' spread paint in the colours of the Ukrainian flag on a road, ahead of the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, outside the Russian Embassy in London, Britain February 23, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Russia's embassy in London on Tuesday said Britain had attempted to interfere in its domestic affairs by imposing sanctions on Russian judges and officials involved in the trial of Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza. "We regard the British authorities’ recent decision to impose restrictive measures against six Russian nationals as an inadmissible attempt to interfere in the domestic affairs of Russia," the Russian Embassy said in a post on the social platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Kara-Murza, who holds Russian and British citizenship, is prominent opposition figures who stayed in Russia and continued to speak out against President Vladimir Putin . Reporting by Farouq Suleiman; editing by William JamesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Hannah McKay, Britain, Vladimir Kara, Kara, Murza, Vladimir Putin, Farouq Suleiman, William James Our Organizations: Police, Ukrainian, Russian Embassy, REUTERS, Twitter, Russian, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, London, Britain, Russia

☆ Sinead O'Connor was found unresponsive at London address - UK police
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who died on Wednesday aged 56, was found unresponsive at an address in London and pronounced dead at the scene, London's Metropolitan Police said. Artists around the world have reacted to the news, with REM frontman Michael Stipe, U.S. musician Tori Amos and Irish singer Shane MacGowan among those who paid tribute to O'Connor's fierce honesty, intense presence and uncompromising spirit. "Police were called at 11:18hrs on Wednesday, 26 July to reports of an unresponsive woman at a residential address ... Officers attended. A 56-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene," the Met Police said in a statement. Reporting by Farouq Suleiman and Kylie MacLellan; Editing by Kate HoltonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sinead O'Connor, Michael Stipe, Tori Amos, Shane MacGowan, Farouq Suleiman, Kylie MacLellan, Kate Holton Organizations: London's Metropolitan Police, Artists, Police, Met Police, Thomson Locations: London

☆ Amazon workers at two UK fulfilment centres to strike in August
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 27 (Reuters) - Britain's GMB trade union said on Thursday more than a thousand workers at two Amazon (AMZN.O) fulfilment centres in England would take strike action in early August in an ongoing pay dispute. "This industrial action will spread further: it’s clear the fight for workers’ rights at Amazon is only just beginning,” GMB Senior Organiser Rachel Fagan said in a statement. Workers in Rugeley will walk out on Aug. 3-4 and staff in Coventry will take action on Aug. 4-5, the union said. "In less than a year, our minimum pay has risen by 10% and by more than 37% since 2018," an Amazon spokesperson said. In June, the union said Amazon workers in Coventry, who had previously staged a series of walkouts since January, had voted in favour of six more months of industrial action.

Persons: ” GMB, Rachel Fagan, Amazon, Prerna Bedi, Helen Reid, Farouq Suleiman, Kylie MacLellan Organizations: Amazon, Workers, Thomson Locations: England, Rugeley, Coventry

☆ UK regulator says Amazon proposals address concerns over Marketplace
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 26 (Reuters) - Britain's anti-trust regulator said Amazon's (AMZN.O) offer to change the way it treats third-party sellers using its Marketplace platform addresses competition concerns in its preliminary view published on Wednesday. It will now consult on the commitments proposed by Amazon, it added. Last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was investigating Amazon over suspected breaches of competition law, including how it chooses products which are placed within the "Buy Box" feature. The CMA said it had taken action after concerns that the U.S. tech giant was using its strength in the market to gain an advantage over other businesses which use Amazon's Marketplace to reach customers. "Amazon’s commitments to the CMA will help ensure that third-party sellers on Amazon Marketplace can compete on a level-playing field against Amazon’s own retail business," Ann Pope, senior director for enforcement at the CMA, said in a statement.

Persons: Ann Pope, Farouq Suleiman, Sarah Young Organizations: Amazon, Markets Authority, CMA, Thomson Locations: U.S

☆ 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' set UK-Ireland box office double debut record
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Maja Smiejkowska/File PhotoLONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - "Barbie" grossed an estimated 18.5 million pounds ($23.7 million) and "Oppenheimer" 10.9 million pounds at the UK-Ireland box office at the weekend, Screen International said on Monday - the first time two films opened to over 10 million pounds each. Greta Gerwig, who helmed "Barbie", beat the record for the biggest opening for a film directed by a woman. "Oppenheimer", starring Irish actor Cillian Murphy as the American scientist who developed the atomic bomb, also secured director Christopher Nolan's second-biggest UK opening weekend. Cinema operator Vue International said it had enjoyed its biggest weekend since "Avengers: Endgame" opened in 2019, with "Barbie" on track to become the biggest film of 2023. "Barbie", which stars Margot Robbie, also ruled in U.S. and Canadian theatres, taking an estimated $155 million to set the record for the biggest domestic opening of 2023.

Persons: Greta Gerwig, Margot Robbie, Maja Smiejkowska, Oppenheimer, Barbie, Cillian Murphy, Christopher Nolan's, Farouq Suleiman, Paul Sandle Organizations: REUTERS, Vue, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Ireland, U.S

☆ Simon Pegg and Brian Cox support Hollywood strike at London rally
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Sarah Mills | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Actors Brian Cox, Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Andy Serkis and Simon Pegg join demonstrators at the Equity rally in Leicester Square, in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA strikes, London, Britain, July 21, 2023. REUTERS/Hollie AdamsLONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - "Mission Impossible" star Simon Pegg and Brian Cox from "Succession" joined a rally in London on Friday in support of U.S film and television writers and actors striking for higher pay and new terms in the streaming era. Actors union SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America want increases in base pay and residuals, plus assurances they will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI). British actors' union Equity organised the rally in Leicester Square, where movie theatres hosted UK premieres including "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer" last week. David Oyelowo, Andy Serkis, Imelda Staunton, Naomie Harris and Hayley Atwell also joined Friday's rally, where supporters held placards saying "Equity stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA".

Persons: Brian Cox, Jim Carter, Imelda Staunton, Andy Serkis, Simon Pegg, Adams, Barbie, Oppenheimer, Paul Fleming, David Oyelowo, Naomie Harris, Hayley Atwell, Rob Delaney, we're, Cox, Paul Sandle, Farouq Suleiman, Sharon Singleton, John Stonestreet Organizations: Equity, SAG, REUTERS, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Leicester Square, London, Britain, U.S

☆ UK unions suspend London Underground strikes next week
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People stand outside Victoria Underground station that is closed while London Underground workers strike over pay and terms, in London, Britain, August 19, 2022. REUTERS/Henry NichollsLONDON, July 21 (Reuters) - Two British trade unions on Friday called off strikes on London's underground train network which had been planned to take place next week, citing progress in talks on pensions and working conditions. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union had been planning to take industrial action between July 23 and 28. "After a week of intense negotiations, we have made real progress in making sure our members’ working conditions and pensions are protected," Finn Brennan, ASLEF organiser, said in a statement. "Our campaign to defend jobs, conditions and our members pensions will continue in the coming weeks and months," Lynch said.

Persons: Henry Nicholls LONDON, Finn Brennan, Mick Lynch, Lynch, William James, Farouq Suleiman, Jason Neely Organizations: London Underground, REUTERS, National Union of Rail, Transport Workers, Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers, Firemen, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, Maritime

☆ UK apologises to LGBT armed forces veterans affected by historic ban on homosexuality
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON, July 19 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday apologised to LBGT veterans who served in the country's armed forces and were affected by a pre-2000 ban on homosexuality. "The ban on LGBT people serving in our military until the year 2000 was an appalling failure of the British state – decades behind the law of this land," Sunak said in parliament following the publication of an independent review on the matter. "As today’s report makes clear, in that period many endured the most horrific sexual abuse and violence, homophobic bullying and harassment while bravely serving this country ... on behalf of the British state, I apologise." Reporting by William James, writing by Farouq SuleimanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, William James, Farouq Suleiman Organizations: British, Thomson Locations: British

☆ Climate of change brings a new generation of British wine
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Natalie Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] A bottle of cuvee produced by Aston Kirby, 20-year-old winemaker, is seen in Sussex, Britain, July 13,2023. Twenty-year-old Ashton Kirby began working in the Bewl Water Vineyard in rolling countryside in East Sussex, southeast England, when his parents bought it in a neglected state three years ago. He said that warmer British weather as a result of climate change meant the grape variety now produced "fantastic wine", which he described as an English Sauvignon Blanc. Last year, research from the University of Reading highlighted the impact of climate change on Britain's viticulture regions by 2050. WineGB said the British wine industry was expanding at a phenomenal rate, with the area under plantation expected to double by 2032.

Persons: Aston Kirby, Natalie Thomas COUSLEY, British viticulteur, Ashton Kirby, Kirby, Blanc, WineGB, Ned Awty, Natalie Thomas, Farouq Suleiman, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, University of Reading, Thomson Locations: Sussex, Britain, England, British, East Sussex

Sunak responded by defending his record and framing the resignation as a consequence of Goldsmith's reluctance to apologise for remarks criticising a parliamentary committee over its investigation of former prime minister Boris Johnson. In his resignation letter, Goldsmith said Britain had "visibly stepped off the world stage and withdrawn our leadership on climate and nature". When Sunak was serving as finance minister, Britain won international plaudits in 2021 for brokering a global climate pact at the COP26 summit in Glasgow. However shortly after becoming prime minister, Sunak said he would not attend the 2022 COP summit, before changing his mind when faced with criticism. On Friday, shortly after Goldsmith's resignation, the government announced a new multi-million pound fund to create and restore wildlife-rich habitats.

Persons: Goldsmith, Sunak, Johnson, Zac Goldsmith, Britain, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Goldsmith's, William James, Farouq Suleiman, Sarah Young, Philippa Fletcher, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Johnson LONDON, Conservative Party, State, Overseas Territories, Commonwealth, Energy, Britain, Thomson Locations: British, Glasgow

LONDON, June 27 (Reuters) - A portrait of an unnamed woman by Austrian artist Gustav Klimt sold for 85.3 million pounds ($108.4 million) on Tuesday, setting a new record price for any work of art sold at an auction in Europe, London-based auction house Sotheby's said. The fall of the hammer at 74 million pounds broke the tension, triggering a collective exhalation in the room and a round of applause. The painting sold to a Hong Kong-based art advisory firm, bidding on behalf of a collector based there. It is now the most expensive Klimt artwork sold at auction anywhere in the world. It was last offered for sale nearly 30 years ago, when it was acquired by the family of the present owner for $11.6 million, according to the auction house.

Persons: Gustav Klimt, Sotheby's, Helena Newman, Newman, Claude Monet's, Alberto Giacometti's, Farouq Suleiman, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Thomson Locations: Austrian, Europe, London, Hong Kong

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