U.K. Treasury chief Rachel Reeves says that the new Labour government is backing the construction of third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport.

Actors Carey Mulligan and Stephen Fry and author Kazuo Ishiguro have been awarded New Year Honors that celebrate artists, athletes, politicians and others who make notable contributions to British society.

The world’s second Sphere will be built in the capital of the United Arab Emirates after the opening of the first in Las Vegas.

Now that an independent inquiry has completed its investigation into Britain’s deadliest residential fire since World War II, survivors and bereaved relatives are demanding that criminal charges be brought against those responsible for the blaze that killed 72 people in 2017.

Austrian authorities have announced a third arrest in connection with the foiled conspiracy to attack three now-canceled Taylor Swift concerts even as disappointed fans charmed Vienna by trading friendship bracelets and singing the pop star’s songs in the streets.

Far-right demonstrations that had been anticipated by police in dozens of locations across Britain failed to materialize as anti-racism protesters instead showed up in force.

Sadiq Khan, the Labour Party’s mayor of London, has romped to victory, securing a record third straight term at City Hall, on another hugely disappointing day for the U.K.’s governing Conservatives ahead of a looming general election.

Millions of voters in England and Wales have cast their ballots in an array of local elections.

London’s police commissioner will meet with senior members of the Jewish community on Monday after the force bungled its apology for suggesting an “openly Jewish″ man’s presence along the route of a pro-Palestinian march risked provoking the demonstrators.

Britain’s main opposition parties are demanding that the Conservative government publish legal advice it has received on whether Israel has broken international humanitarian law during the war in Gaza.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says a Conservative lawmaker was wrong to say the mayor of London is controlled by Islamists.

The U.K.’s governing Conservative Party has suspended ties with one if its lawmakers after he accused London Mayor Sadiq Khan of being controlled by Islamists as tensions over the Israel-Hamas war roil British politics.

London's iconic underground train map is getting a major update.

British police say that a 15-year-old girl has been stabbed to death while on her way to school and a 17-year-old male suspect has been arrested in connection with her death.

London’s traffic cameras are under attack.

A British court has ruled against five London suburbs that tried to block a pollution tax on older cars.

Environmentalists are cautioning Britain’s main political parties not to water down their climate change promises.

London’s top police officer has defended the department from complaints of a heavy-handed response to protesters during the coronation of King Charles III.

An anti-monarchy group says it plans to take legal action against London’s Metropolitan Police after several of its members were arrested as they prepared to protest the coronation of King Charles III.

Scottish lawmakers have confirmed Humza Yousaf as the country's first minister.

London’s police force has lost the confidence of the people it serves because it is riven with institutional racism, misogyny and homophobia and doesn’t do enough to weed out bad officers, according to a withering report commissioned after a young woman was raped and killed by a serving officer.

Police say windows at India’s High Commission in London and at the Consulate General of India in San Francisco were smashed during separate demonstrations by Sikh protesters.

British police say two children and four women were injured in a drive-by shooting in central London.

Police say a woman injured in a crush outside a London concert venue has died.

Four people have been hospitalized in critical condition after a suspected crush at a London concert venue.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says Monday’s state funeral for Queen Elizabeth II is an “unprecedented” security challenge.

Hotels, restaurants and shops are packed as royal fans pour into the heart of London to experience the flag-lined roads, pomp-filled processions and brave a mileslong line for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to bid adieu to Queen Elizabeth II.

London’s police force says two officers have been hospitalized after being stabbed in central London early Friday.

Britain’s Conservative Party has chosen Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss as the two finalists in an election to replace Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Britain’s record-breaking heatwave is spurring calls for the government to speed up efforts to adapt to a changing climate after wildfires created the busiest day for London firefighters since bombs rained down on the city during World War II.

Four-time Olympic champion Mo Farah says he was illegally brought to the U.K. as a young boy and forced to care for other children before he escaped a life of servitude through running.

The British government says veteran counterterrorism police officer Mark Rowley will be the new chief of London’s troubled Metropolitan Police.

The streets of London have been filled with color as the U.K. capital marked 50 years of Pride.

The names of the 72 people who lost their lives in a London high-rise tower blaze have been read out at a memorial service to mark five years since the tragedy.

Justin Verlander and the Astros try for their eighth straight win when they visit Joe Ryan and the first-place Twins in a matchup of American League contenders with identical 18-11 records.

At the Academy Awards in Los Angles Sunday night, attendees expressed support for Ukraine by going silent for 30 seconds.

The second major storm in three days has smashed through northern Europe, killing at least nine people as high winds felled trees, cancelled train services and ripped sections off the roof of London’s O2 Arena.

Most coronavirus restrictions, including mandatory face masks, have been lifted in England after Britain’s government said its vaccine booster rollout successfully reduced serious illness and COVID-19 hospitalizations.

A double-decker public bus in London has crashed into a building and emergency workers say that five people required hospital treatment.

Britain’s health secretary has refused to rule out imposing tougher COVID-19 restrictions before Christmas amid the rapid rise of infections and continuing uncertainty about the omicron variant.

British police investigating the killing of a 28-year-old woman in London say they are probing whether she was attacked by a stranger.

London’s subway has opened two new stations in the network’s first expansion since the 1990s.

Londoners are cleaning up after torrential rain left homes, roads and several subway stations flooded, the second unseasonal inundation in as many weeks.

London’s mayor has sent a message of support to Hong Kong residents fleeing China’s crackdown on democracy to seek new lives in the United Kingdom.

England’s nightclubs have reopened as the country lifted most remaining restrictions after more than a year of lockdowns, mask mandates and other pandemic-related curbs on freedom.

Thousands of young people across England plan to dance the night away at “Freedom Day” parties as soon as it turns Monday.

COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again globally in a dispiriting setback that is triggering another round of restrictions and dampening hopes for a return to normal life.

London's mayor says mask-wearing will be required on the city's transport network even after legal restrictions in England are lifted on July 19.

British police have opened investigations into the racist abuse of three Black players who failed to score penalties in England’s shootout loss to Italy in the European Championship final.

“The Lehman Trilogy” was able to make only four preview performances on Broadway before the pandemic shut its doors.

Scotland’s leader has told British Prime Minister Boris Johnson that a second Scottish independence referendum is “a matter of when, not if,” after her party won its fourth straight parliamentary election.

The Scottish National Party has won its fourth straight parliamentary election on Saturday and insisted it will push on with another referendum on Scotland’s independence from the U.K. even though it just failed to secure a majority.

British voters are casting their ballots in local and regional elections that could have huge repercussions for the future of the United Kingdom.

Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic have hit London in a perfect storm.

FILE - In this file photo dated Saturday, March 20, 2021, floral tributes and messages surround the bandstand on Clapham Common in London after the nearby disappearance of Sarah Everard. A U.K. police watchdog said Tuesday March 30, 2021, that officers did not behave in a heavy-handed manner when they broke up a vigil for Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home in London and was later found murdered. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, FILE)LONDON – A U.K. police watchdog said Tuesday that officers didn't behave “in a heavy-handed manner” when they broke up a vigil for a London woman whose killing sparked an outcry about women's safety. Her body was later found hidden in woodland more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) away. Images of police officers tussling with women at the peaceful rally, and leading some away in handcuffs, drew strong criticism.

A bird flies above an Underground sign at one of the entrances to King's Cross tube station in London, Friday, March 12, 2021. Even as many of its famous institutions closed during the coronavirus pandemic for most of the past 12 months, London's Underground kept running through three successive lockdowns. Nicknamed the Tube, its staff from cleaners to train drivers take pride in maintaining a system that keeps London's heart beating. Its continued operation was a sign that even in a pandemic, London's heart was still beating. In the early weeks, when most Britons were told to stay at home and fear outpaced facts about the virus, Underground employees kept going to work, but worried about getting sick.

But the vigil ended with clashes between police and those attending, and many questioned whether the police force was too heavy-handed. Home Secretary Priti Patel said scenes from the vigil in south London were “upsetting." AdPolice were seen scuffling with some women at the event, and one woman was seen pinned to the ground by two officers. Everard, a marketing executive, was last seen walking home from a friend’s apartment in south London at about 10:30 p.m. on March 3. Her body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Kent, more than 50 miles southeast of London, on Wednesday.

More than 3 million people in the U.K. have tested positive for the coronavirus and 81,000 have died — 30,000 in just the last 30 days. Anthony Costello, professor of global health at University College London, said “dilly-dallying” in March about whether to lock down the U.K. cost thousands of lives. Johnson tightened restrictions for London and the southeast, but the government’s scientific advisory committee warned Dec. 22 that would not be enough. Johnson did not announce a third national lockdown for England until almost two weeks later, on Jan. 4. So don’t beat them up too badly.”___Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at:https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemichttps://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccinehttps://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

A man wearing a face covering walks past the London Eye in London, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. Not all the deaths announced by the government on Friday occurred on the same day. The hospital was one of several built in the spring to help during the pandemic, but was not heavily used. The U.K. is recording virus-related deaths at a level last seen during the worst days early in the pandemic. According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the U.K. has the most COVID-related deaths in Europe and the fifth highest number in the world.

A British coroner has ruled on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020 that excessive air pollution from traffic fumes contributed to the death of a 9-year-old girl who died of a fatal asthma attack. The girl is believed to be the first person in the U.K. to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on their death certificate. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)LONDON – A British coroner ruled Wednesday that excessive air pollution from traffic fumes contributed to the death of a 9-year-old girl who died of a fatal asthma attack. The girl is believed to be the first person in the U.K. to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on their death certificate. Her mother has long fought to have the role of air pollution in her daughter’s death recognized.

Two of the country’s leading medical journals were among those imploring Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative government to ax plans to allow more household mixing over the Christmas period. Any potential easing over Christmas contrasts with measures being taken by other European nations such as Germany and the Netherlands, w ho have announced sweeping new restrictions for the holidays. When the Christmas easing was first announced last month, Johnson was careful to stress that households should be "jolly careful, especially with elderly relatives.”However, that easing announcement was predicated on an assumption that new cases would be on a downward trajectory. London Mayor Sadiq Khan was among those calling on the government to look again at its Christmas plans. They could pass the virus on to older relations.”___Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak

The government is negotiating with the leaders of Manchester, Lancashire and other communities in northern England about moving into the top risk tier, which would require the closure of many businesses. The opposition Labour Party’s spokesman on health issues, Jonathan Ashworth, described the measures as inadequate to stem the exponential growth of the virus. Hancock said discussions were continuing with Greater Manchester and Lancashire about moving those communities into the government’s highest risk tier. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham once again rejected government pressure to accept the higher risk rating without further financial support. “They are willing to sacrifice jobs and businesses here to try and save them elsewhere,″ a visibly furious Burnham said.

Connecticut has seen an uptick in virus cases in communities across the state over the past few weeks. There were 3,747 newly confirmed COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, breaking the record of 3,279 set on Tuesday. The day of high case numbers comes just two weeks after the Republican governor repealed that same statewide mask mandate, citing declining numbers of virus cases. Mississippi has had more than 108,000 virus cases and at least 3,152 virus-related deaths. Mississippi’s state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said Monday that six hospitals have no beds available in their intensive care units.

Cities around the U.K. are imposing new coronavirus restrictions as they race to slow the spread of COVID-19, and London could be next. (Andrew Milligan/PA via AP)LONDON – Cities around the U.K. imposed new coronavirus restrictions Friday as they raced to slow the spread of COVID-19 — with London at risk of following soon. In the Welsh cities of Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli, households also will be banned from mixing indoors. Together with local lockdowns announced previously, one-quarter of the UK population is now living under heightened restrictions. We’re seeing a sharp rise in 111 calls, hospital admissions and patients in ICU,'' Khan said, referencing Britain's hotline for medical assistance.

A police officer stands outside Croydon Custody Centre where a police officer was shot in the early hours of Friday, Sept. 25, 2020, in Croydon, England. A British police officer has been shot dead inside a London police station while detaining a suspect. Londons Metropolitan Police force said the officer was shot at the Croydon Custody Center in the south of the city early Friday. (Aaron Chown/PA via AP)LONDON – A British police officer was shot dead inside a London police station early Friday by a suspect he was detaining, who then appears to have turned the gun on himself. The officer is the 17th from the London force to be killed by a firearm since 1945.

Britain has Europe’s highest death toll since the start of the pandemic, with 41,821 confirmed virus-related deaths. In Australia, about 100 protesters gathered in the Melbourne beachside suburb of Elwood on Saturday before being scattered by police. Romania is among the countries that has had a new spike in confirmed cases, including a national daily record of 1,713 cases earlier in the week and 1,333 more on Saturday. In all, Romania has had 111,550 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 4,402 deaths from the disease since the start of the pandemic. Protesters in Bucharest’s University Square drew parallels between the protective measures against the pandemic and Nazi regimes.

People queue up outside a coronavirus testing centre offering walk-in appointments in north London, Friday Sept. 18, 2020. Johnson's comments came amid mounting speculation that the government will announce fresh curbs on the hospitality sector, such as pubs and restaurants, potentially involving curfews — something already in place in areas facing extra lockdown restrictions. The spike, which has been largely seen among young adults, has already led to lockdown restrictions being reimposed. The other nations of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — have announced similar clampdowns on meetings. There are also more targeted restrictions across the U.K. in areas seeing acute spikes.

A staff member waits at empty lanes of a Covid-19 drive thru testing facility at Twickenham stadium in London, Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020. The comments came after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that authorities will have to impose tougher measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 and “protect’’ the Christmas holidays. Dido Harding, who is in charge of the virus testing program, told a parliamentary committee that constraints in the system were due to processing in laboratories. While younger and stronger individuals are usually more resilient to the effects of COVID-19, the demographic group is now spreading the virus to older people. Local leaders are also demanding the government increase testing capacity to stave off a second wave of infections.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON Britains government will demand people wear face coverings in shops as it seeks to clarify its message after weeks of prevarication amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The order comes into effect on July 24, giving shops and the police time to prepare. Environment Secretary George Eustice also did not rule out the possibility that mandatory face coverings would become compulsory in offices and other workplaces in the future. Scotland has already made masks mandatory in stores. A growing body of evidence suggests wearing face coverings brings some benefit in preventing the spread of the virus.

Stun guns are in limited but increasing use in France already. According to the French police oversight agency, stun guns killed one person last year and three suffered severe injuries. The human rights group has said at least 500 people died after being hit by stun guns between 2001 and 2012 in the United States. The Netherlands began issuing stun guns to police in 2017 and is training 17,000 of the forces 40,000 officers. There are about 15,000 stun guns in France, which has a total police and gendarme force of around 240,000.

Scaffolders erect boarding around the statue of Sir Winston Churchill at Parliament Square, in London, Thursday, June 11, 2020, following Black Lives Matter protests that took place across the U.K. over the weekend. The protests were ignited by the death of George Floyd, who died after he was restrained by Minneapolis police while in custody on May 25. (Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP)LONDON Authorities in London boarded up a war memorial and a statue of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill ahead of expected rival demonstrations by anti-racism and far-right protesters, as the citys mayor on Friday urged protesters to stay home because of the coronavirus pandemic. Several other statues have been defaced during mass protests around the country, including Churchills, which was daubed with the words was a racist. Police now fear far-right groups plan to seek confrontation under the guise of protecting statues. With more demonstrations expected on the weekend, a protective plywood screen was erected late Thursday around Churchills statue outside Parliament.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)LONDON More statues of imperialist figures could be removed from Britains streets, following the unauthorized felling of a monument to slave trader Edward Colston in the city of Bristol, the mayor of London said Tuesday. Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was setting up a commission to ensure the citys monuments reflected its diversity. Debate over who should be publicly commemorated has been reignited in Britain by the felling of a monument to Colston, a 17th-century slave trader and philanthropist. Many Bristolians welcomed the statues removal, but the British government called it an act of vandalism and urged police to prosecute the perpetrators. At weekend protests in London, demonstrators scrawled was a racist on a statue of Winston Churchill.

(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)LONDON LONDON (AP) Passengers on Englands buses, subways and trains will have to wear face coverings from June 15 when most shops reopen, the British government said Thursday. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said face coverings will be mandatory from the date nonessential stores, such as department stores and electronics retailers, are scheduled to reopen. The evidence suggests wearing face coverings offers some, albeit limited, protection against the spread of the virus, he said at the government's daily briefing. He also said face coverings will be a condition of travel and failure to abide by the requirement could potentially lead to fines. Transport unions had also been urging the government to make face coverings compulsory after the deaths of dozens of workers.