United Kingdom

LONDON, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- The British government has started developing the country's new tariff regime for imports after the Brexit transition period, which ends in December this year.

It is the latest effort by the British government to shape its post-Brexit trade policy. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Britain will seek a Canada-style trade agreement with the European Union (EU) as part of its future trade relationship with the bloc, and diverge from EU rules.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil prices edged down on Friday as Russia said it would need more time before committing to output cuts along with OPEC and other producers amid falling demand for crude as China battles the coronavirus epidemic.

Brent crude LCOc1 futures fell 20 cents, or 0.4%, to $54.73 a barrel by 1140 GMT, and were heading for a fifth weekly loss due to lingering fears over the impact of the virus.

U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 futures were down 29 cents, or 0.6%, at $50.66 a barrel, also heading for a fifth consecutive week of losses.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain has named career diplomat Karen Pierce as its new ambassador to the United States, the first woman to hold the U.S. post, with the task of shoring up relations with London’s closest ally after Brexit.

Pierce, 60, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, replaces Kim Darroch who resigned last July after U.S. President Donald Trump labeled him “stupid” and “wacky” following the release of confidential memos in which he had branded the U.S. president’s administration inept.

LONDON, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — UK based The Wellcome Trust and the Gates Foundation are committing millions of dollars to help African countries battle the novel coronavirus, if and when it should come to the continent.

In a statement, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it will commit up to $100 million for the global response to the coronavirus (2019-nCoV) just a few days after the Wellcome Trust announced $13 million.

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is seeking far-reaching reductions in tariffs in a trade deal with the United States, trade minister Liz Truss said on Thursday, setting out the broad aims of her post-Brexit push to secure new free trade agreements.

“The FTA (Free Trade Agreement) will secure comprehensive, far-reaching and mutually beneficial tariff reductions - taking into account sensitive UK products - which will increase access to the U.S. market for UK businesses, and lower prices and increase choice for UK consumers,” Truss said in a written statement to parliament.

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil futures rose for a second day on Thursday boosted by potential OPEC+ action to counter oil demand loss from the coronavirus outbreak and by optimism that trade tensions between the world’s two biggest economies were easing.

A technical committee advising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies led by Russia, known as OPEC+, may reach consensus on Thursday on the need to further cut oil output by at least 500,000 barrels per day (bpd), two sources told Reuters.

LONDON, Feb 05 (APP): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan on Tuesday evening called upon the international community, including the United Kingdom (UK), to play their vital role and save humanity in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), who were undergoing the worst kind of atrocities and human right violations at the hands of Modi-led fascist Indian government and his brutal occupation forces.

CRANFIELD, England (Reuters) - A Nissan car has completed a 230-mile journey autonomously in Britain, the longest and most complex such trip in the country as carmakers race to develop driverless technologies which are revolutionising travel.

Britain has been wooing developers of autonomous vehicles, hoping to grab a slice of an industry it estimates could be worth around 900 billion pounds ($1.2 trillion) worldwide in 2035.

LONDON (Reuters) - A leading British scientist has made a significant breakthrough in the race for a coronavirus vaccine by reducing a part of the normal development time from “two to three years to just 14 days”, Sky news reported.

Robin Shattock, head of mucosal infection and immunity at Imperial College London, said he is now at the stage to start testing the vaccine on animals as early as next week with human studies in the summer if enough funding is secured, Sky said.

LONDON, Feb 5 (NNN-BB NEWS) – Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, consented to sign the exchange of letters, in the field of defence, with British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, at No 10, Downing Street, London, yesterday.

Accompanying the Sultan was his son, Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

Earlier, the Sultan attended a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister at No 10, Downing Street.