UK

Theresa May's deal is voted down in historic Commons defeat

MPs voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject the deal, which sets out the terms of Britain's exit from the EU on 29 March.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has now tabled a vote of no confidence in the government, which could trigger a general election.

The confidence vote is expected to be held at about 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

The defeat is a huge blow for Mrs May - who has spent more than two years hammering out a deal with the EU.

EU leaders agree UK's Brexit deal at Brussels summit

After 20 months of negotiations, the 27 leaders gave the deal their blessing after less than an hour's discussion.

They said the deal - which needs to be approved by the UK Parliament - paved the way for an "orderly withdrawal".

Theresa May said the deal "delivered for the British people" and set the UK "on course for a prosperous future".

Speaking in Brussels, she urged both Leave and Remain voters to unite behind the agreement, insisting the British public "do not want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit".

UK to open diplomatic posts in Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa

They are among nine new posts in Commonwealth countries as part of an expansion of the UK's overseas network announced by the British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, Mr Johnson linked the announcement with the UK's planned exit from the European Union.

He said the new diplomatic posts were in regions which provided "huge potential and opportunity post-Brexit for British businesses".

Britain already has a high commission in Fiji.

FA clarifies World Cup stance

Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed on Wednesday that UK politicians and members of the royal family will boycott the World Cup in Russia.

The announcement came in the wake of the attempted murder of Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, by use of a nerve agent in Salisbury.

Russia has denied all involvement in the incident, which has led to heightened political tensions, with both victims still critically ill in hospital.

And the FA has moved to clarify the organisation's stance on England travelling to the World Cup in a statement.

UK to expel 23 Russian diplomats

Theresa May said the diplomats, who have a week to leave, were identified as "undeclared intelligence officers".

The UK later told the UN Security Council that Russia had used "a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war" in a "peaceful" British city.

Russia denies attempted murder and says it will respond appropriately.

Mrs May also revoked an invitation to Russia's foreign minister, and said the Royal Family would not attend the Fifa World Cup in Russia later this year.

UK TV drama about North Korea hit by cyber-attack

The series - due to be written by an Oscar-nominated screenwriter - has been shelved.

In August 2014, Channel 4 announced what it said would be a new "bold and provocative" drama series.

Titled Opposite Number, the programme's plot involved a British nuclear scientist taken prisoner in North Korea.

The production firm involved - Mammoth Screen - subsequently had its computers attacked.

The project has not moved forward because of a failure to secure funding, the company says.

 

'Hair on fire'

Brexit: UK 'will not enter into briefing war' with EC

It follows reports in a German paper of repeated clashes between Theresa May and Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker at a Downing Street dinner.

EU sources claimed UK misunderstanding of the talks process, and ignorance about how Brussels works, could lead to no deal being agreed on the UK's exit.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the reports were "tittle-tattle".

She said the emergence of the reports was "not the right way" of negotiating, but the UK was committed to negotiating in "good faith".

'Serious' hack attacks from China targeting UK firms

The gang behind the attacks has compromised technology service firms and plans to use them as a proxy for attacks, security firms have said.

The group, dubbed APT10, is using custom-made malware and spear phishing to gain access to target companies.

The National Cyber Security Centre and cyber units at PwC and BAE Systems collaborated to identify the group.

"Operating alone, none of us would have joined the dots to uncover this new campaign of indirect attacks," said Richard Horne, cyber security partner at PwC.

 

Known victims

Teen asylum seeker brutally attacked in UK

Police said that a group of about 20 people were involved in the attack on the 17-year-old in Croydon, south-east London, which they said was being treated as a hate crime.

The Press Association said the teenager was Kurdish Iranian and suffered a fractured skull and a blood clot on his brain. Police have not identified the victim.

Four people were charged with violent disorder, and one with violent disorder and grievous bodily harm, police said, They will appear in court later.

 

Teenager in hospital

Google Home to be launched in UK in April

Google said it had "hidden a few British treats" in the device.

The speaker and assistant, which launched in the US in November, is part of a growing trend to make artificial intelligence available in homes.

The firm is also launching its own wi-fi service in the UK, in an attempt to solve the "frustration when wireless connectivity fails at home".

Like Amazon's Echo, Home can answer basic queries as well as control smart home devices, such as lights.