United Kingdom

LONDON (AP) — The world awaited the results Thursday of an initial European investigation into whether there is any evidence that the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine is linked to blood clots reported in small numbers of recipients of the shot.

Concerns over the clotting led more than a dozen European countries to suspend use of the vaccine over the past week, even though the company and international health agencies said there was no indication the vaccine caused the clotting and recommended continuing inoculations.

LONDON (Reuters) - Uber drivers in Britain should receive the minimum wage for the whole time they are logged on to the app, two former drivers said on Wednesday after winning a court battle which could reshape the gig economy.

Following a UK Supreme Court defeat last month, the Silicon Valley-based company reclassified its more than 70,000 drivers in Britain as workers, meaning they are guaranteed entitlements such as holiday pay.

Uber said drivers will be at least 15% better off after the changes, if they opt into the pension plan.

16 Mar 2021; MEMO: The UK will increase its nuclear deterrent capacity by 40% in response to the "evolving security environment," according to a review published on Tuesday.

The 114-page document, titled "Global Britain in a competitive age," revealed the plans of rising the cap on its stockpile of nuclear warheads from 180 to 260.

LONDON (Reuters) - The European Union will meet an end-of-March deadline for agreeing a cooperation pact with Britain in financial services despite the clash between the UK and the bloc over Northern Ireland, the EU’s financial services chief said on Tuesday.

Mairead McGuinness said she was “sticking to our commitment” to set up the cooperation framework, described by Brussels as an informal mechanism for discussing upcoming regulatory issues, similar to what the bloc already has with the United States.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain wants to expand its influence among countries in the Indo-Pacific region to try to moderate China’s global dominance, a document laying out post-Brexit foreign policy priorities will say on Tuesday.

The document will also underline the importance of strong ties with the United States, and British media said an increase was planned to Britain’s nuclear arsenal and that Russia would be named as a top security threat.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices dropped on Tuesday, extending declines to three consecutive days, as rising stockpiles in the United States added to the risks to a demand recovery after countries including Germany and France halted COVID-19 vaccinations.

Brent crude was $1.03 cents, or 1.5%, lower at $67.85 by 1002 GMT. U.S. crude was down 96 cents, or 1.4%, at $64.43 a barrel.

LONDON (Reuters) - British Airways’s new boss said vaccinated people should be allowed to travel without restriction and non-vaccinated people with a negative COVID-19 test, as he set out his ideas for a travel restart a month before the UK government finalises its plans.

Holidays will not be allowed until May 17 at the earliest, the government has said, but before that, on April 12, Britain will announce how and when non-essential travel into and out of the country can resume.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Monday, with Brent reaching $70 a barrel, as data showed China’s economic recovery accelerated at the start of 2021, boosting the energy demand outlook at the world’s largest oil importer.

Brent crude futures for May was up 10 cents, or 0.1%, at $69.32 a barrel by 0947 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for April was at $65.73 a barrel, up 12 cents, or 0.2%.

London, Mar 14 (AP-PTI) London's police department is under scrutiny for the way officers handled some participants at an unofficial vigil Saturday night for a London woman whose death led to murder charges against a fellow officer and spurred a national conversation about violence against women in the UK.

Hundreds of people disregarded a judge's ruling and police requests by gathering at Clapham Common in honour of Sarah Everard, 33, who last was seen alive near the south London park on March 3.

LONDON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese side expresses its strong condemnation of and firm opposition to "groundless slanders at China" and blatant interference in China's internal affairs by some politicians, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Britain said Saturday.