United Kingdom

LONDON (AP) — A closely watched survey shows that the British economy is not far away from shrinking amid intensified Brexit uncertainties.

Financial information firm IHS Markit said Tuesday that its “all-sector” purchasing managers’ index dipped to 50.3 points in January from 51.5 the previous month. Were it to fall below 50, it would be indicating a fall in output.

04 Feb 2019; DW: Queen Elizabeth II and other members of Britain's royal family could be evacuated from London in case of no-deal Brexit civil unrest, Britain's Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday newspapers reported on Sunday.

LONDON (AP) — Nearly a third of U.K. firms may shift operations abroad because of Britain’s pending departure from the European Union, a survey of 1,200 company directors suggested Friday, as political stalemate over a Brexit deal heightened jitters among businesses.

The survey by employers’ group the Institute of Directors found that 16 percent of businesses already had relocation plans while a further 13 percent were “actively considering” a move.

London, Feb 1 (PTI) Nearly 4.2 million people around the world die every year within 30 days after surgery, more than than those who die from HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined, according to a study.

The analysis, published in a research letter to The Lancet journal, found that half of the post-operative deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

31 Jan 2019; DW: Investment in the British car industry dropped 46.5 percent last year to 589 million British pounds (€673 million/$769 million), said the Society of Motor Manufacturers (SMMT).

Since the Brexit referendum in 2016, business groups have pressured the government to soften the economic impact of departing the European Union, citing a major downturn in investment. Thursday's figures are the lowest ever since SMMT began compiling the data.

What the report said:

JERUSALEM (AP) — Amnesty International on Wednesday urged online travel sites to ban listings from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The London-based rights group’s report, titled “Destination: Occupation,” said rental sites Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia and TripAdvisor are driving tourism to settlements that most of the world considers illegal.

29 Jan 2019; AFP: Thousands more people living in Britain are at risk of dying from heart attacks and strokes in the decade after Britain leaves the European Union as the cost of imported fruit and vegetables soars, new research warned Tuesday.

Britain is due to exit the EU on March 29 and it is far from certain what sort of deal -- if any -- Prime Minister Theresa May will be able to strike and what effect that may have on trade.

30 Jan 2019; AFP: British Prime Minister Theresa May won parliament's backing on Tuesday to renegotiate her Brexit deal -- a major policy reversal that sets up a new standoff with the European Union after it ruled out any change.

May's dramatic decision to abandon a pact she herself sealed with the 27 EU leaders at a summit last month came with Britain on course to crash out of the bloc in political and economic chaos on March 29.

29 Jan 2019; DW: A group branding itself the "IRA" has claimed credit for a bombing earlier this month in the Northern Irish city of Derry. Brexit and the return of a hard border have sparked concerns the Irish conflict could rekindle.

A group calling itself the "IRA" claimed credit for placing the car bomb which detonated in front of a courthouse in Northern Ireland's Derry (Londonderry) earlier this month.

London, Jan 28 (PTI) The UK government Monday expressed regret over reports that the Indian flag was burnt during a demonstration by separatist groups outside the Indian High Commission in London on Republic Day.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was disappointed that separatist groups had chosen to take such an action, as Scotland Yard confirmed that it was working to establish the exact circumstances around the incident on Saturday.