Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland. It is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The country has a rich history, with a monarchy that dates back over a thousand years and a significant role in shaping the modern world through its colonial past.
In recent news, Great Britain has been making headlines for a variety of reasons. The country has been grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic, with the government implementing various measures to control the spread of the virus. The UK has also been dealing with the aftermath of Brexit, with the country officially leaving the European Union in 2020 and negotiating new trade deals with other countries.
Other recent news stories from Great Britain include the rise in cases of sexually transmitted infections, the launch of a pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs, and the announcement of new guidance to reduce contamination in recycling. The country has also been experiencing a warm spell of weather, with temperatures rising due to an Iberian plume bringing warm air from Spain.
UK crime boss extradited from Thailand and jailed for 11 years
Richard Wakeling, a UK crime boss who fled the country in 2018, has been extradited from Thailand and jailed for 11 years for attempting to import £8m worth of liquid amphetamine into the UK in 2016.
Labour's pledge to ban new oil and gas licences in the North Sea faces opposition from unions
Labour leader Keir Starmer has pledged to ban new oil and gas licences in the North Sea if his party wins power, but the proposal has faced opposition from unions concerned about job security for oil and gas workers.
Russian forces accused of destroying dam in Ukraine
Russian forces have been accused of destroying the Nova Kakhovka dam in Ukraine, causing the largest man-made disaster in Europe for decades. The dam's destruction has flooded surrounding villages, endangered vital crops and threatened drinking water supplies. The attack came a day after Kyiv launched multiple attacks across the front line for the apparent beginning of its long-awaited counter-offensive.
Shell's green energy ads banned for being misleading
Shell has been banned from running ads that overstated the amount of green energy the oil giant produced.
UK Prime Minister meets with President Biden for fourth time
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has met with President Biden for the fourth time in as many months, this time in Washington. The two leaders have been building a relationship since Sunak became Prime Minister, with Biden previously referring to him as 'Rashee Sanook'.
Police release e-fit of man found dead in plane at Gatwick Airport
Sussex Police have released an e-fit of a man who was found dead in the undercarriage of a Tui plane at Gatwick Airport after flying from Gambia. The man is believed to be in his 20s or 30s and was found without any identity documents. The flight from Gambia to London is around six-hours long. Police have not commented on what could have caused his death which an inquest later hopes to reveal.
UK ticket-holder wins £111.7m EuroMillions jackpot
A UK ticket-holder has won the £111.7m EuroMillions jackpot in Friday's draw.
UK government launches pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs
The UK government has launched a £40m pilot scheme to increase access to weight loss drugs and cut NHS waiting lists. The scheme will explore how approved drugs can be made available to more people by expanding specialist weight management services outside hospitals. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended weight loss drug Semaglutide (Wegovy) earlier this year but advised that it should only be available via specialist weight management services, which are largely hospital-based. The government aims to reduce growing obesity rates in the UK and tackle the £6.5bn cost to the NHS of obesity by making it easier to access weight-loss treatments through GPs.
Labour predicted to win landslide victory in next UK general election
A megapoll of new constituency boundaries suggests that Labour is on course for a landslide victory at the next UK general election.
UK set to experience hottest day of the year so far
Temperatures in the UK are set to rise, with the possibility of the hottest day of the year so far, as an 'Iberian plume' makes its way towards the country. The Met Office predicts that temperatures could reach 24C early next week, with the possibility of even higher temperatures later in the week, particularly in Wales and the Southwest of England. The highest temperature in the UK so far this year was 25.1C in Porthmadog on Tuesday, and forecasters believe there is a small chance that could be surpassed.
Record numbers of gonorrhoea and syphilis cases in England
Cases of gonorrhoea and syphilis in England have reached record highs, with gonorrhoea diagnoses rising by 50.3% to 82,592 in 2022, the highest number since records began in 1918, and syphilis diagnoses increasing by 15% to 8,692, the highest since 1948.
Heat health alert issued for six regions of England
The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office have issued the first Heat-Health Alert of the year in six regions of England, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 30C this weekend.
UK universities face pressure to prioritise mental health
MPs have debated a petition calling for a legal duty of care towards all university and college students, following the death of a student who was not given the option to take a break when he became unwell at Cambridge University. The petition was signed by more than 100,000 people and called for the extension to all students of the existing duty of care to protect those under the age of 18, and staff, from "reasonably foreseeable harm" caused by direct injury or a failure to act.
Ukraine and AI on the agenda for Sunak and Biden
UK Prime Minister reportedly wants new global artificial intelligence regulator to be based in London
Oldest carved wood in Britain discovered
A metre-long piece of carved wood discovered by chance is more than 6,000 years old - making it the oldest carved wood in Britain, experts say.
Canada experiences worst-ever start to wildfire season
Canada is experiencing one of the worst starts to wildfire season, with forest fires burning in nearly all provinces and forcing tens of thousands of evacuations since late April.
COVID Inquiry calls for public to share stories of how pandemic affected them
The inquiry says the stories will give evidence of the human impact of the pandemic on the UK population, by allowing an opportunity for those affected to share their experiences.
UK house prices fall for first time in 11 years
UK house prices have experienced their first annual fall in more than a decade, according to Halifax, in a sign that the impact of soaring interest rates on household budgets has brought a halt to the country’s long housing boom.
Rishi Sunak meets with Joe Biden at the White House
Rishi Sunak, the UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer, met with US President Joe Biden at the White House to discuss economic security, AI regulation, and green technology. The two leaders also discussed sustaining military support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
World's largest container ship sets sail from UK
The MSC Loreto, the world's largest container ship, has set sail from the UK after its first visit to the Port of Felixstowe.
UN negotiators agree to draft treaty to end plastic pollution
Delegates at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for Plastics agreed to produce an initial draft before their next meeting in Kenya in November, participants said. A coalition of “high-ambition” governments led by Norway and Rwanda, along with environmental groups, want to end plastic pollution altogether by 2040 by slashing production and limiting some chemicals used in making plastics.
Junior doctors in England to strike as senior medics refuse to provide cover
Junior doctors in England are set to walk out for 72 hours from 7am on Wednesday June 14. More than 800 hospital consultants in London have said they will not provide cover for striking junior doctors unless their employers agree to pay a higher overtime rate set by the British Medical Association (BMA).
Global companies warn staff of payroll cyber attack
British Airways, Boots and the BBC are among the organisations affected by a cyber attack after payroll platform Zellis was targeted by a major hack.
Report identifies UK towns with potential for geothermal energy
A report commissioned by Boris Johnson has identified 45 local authorities in the UK with the greatest potential for deep geothermal energy.
‘Succession’ Director Mark Mylod Had to “Walk a Tightrope” to Nail the Finale
On a special bonus episode of ‘Still Watching,’ Mylod reveals how he shaped the Roy family’s demise: “It’s about the cruelty of hope.”