BBC

The number of artifacts that have disappeared from the British Museum is estimated at 2,000, chairman of trustees George Osborne said on Aug. 26, admitting the collection did not have a complete catalogue.

The U.K.'s former chancellor described the missing pieces as "small items of jewelry, gems, bits of gold that were not on public display."

Around 2,000 artefacts including gold jewellery and gems had been stolen from the British Museum over a long period of time, but recovery efforts were already under way, the museum's chair George Osborne said on Saturday.

Thousands of ambulance workers held another strike across England and Wales yesterday, in escalating industrial action as unions called the government to hold talks on improving pay and conditions.

Ambulance workers began strike action on December 21 last year and further dates are planned for February.

The British government on July 19 lifted pandemic restrictions on daily life in England, scrapping all social distancing in a step slammed by scientists and opposition parties as a dangerous leap into the unknown.

A technical fault on May 22 left frustrated fans unable to access Glastonbury Festival's livestream concert at the famous farm site in southwest England, after the coronavirus pandemic led to the blockbuster event's cancellation.

British Security Minister Ben Wallace said Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had "ultimate" responsibility for a nerve agent attack on a former Russian double agent in England in March.

British finance minister Philip Hammond said on Sunday that Britain's government would respond "appropriately" if a foreign state was found to be involved in the poisoning of a former Russian spy in England a week ago, Reuters reported. 

The EC says that its position on Catalonia remained unchanged after Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy said the Constitution's Article 155 would be triggered.

A former British spy chief said on Aug. 11 that encryption of online communications was "very positive" for the country's national security interests despite the difficulties that it poses for security services attempting to tackle militants.

Britain will try to keep as many aspects of its EU membership in place as possible during a transition period of up to three years after Brexit, finance minister Philip Hammond said on July 28.