UK launches Commonwealth charm offensive as Brexit nears

Beach huts are a peculiarly British passion. Designed to shield holidaymakers from fair weather or foul, as well as offering the perfect spot to make a cup of tea, the cabins have shot up in popularity during the Coronavirus pandemic, with most overseas travel curtailed, and at Walton on the Naze a beach hut in which overnight stays are not allowed can fetch up to 40,000 pounds (46,000 euros). Two beach hut lovers explain their allure.

The London embassy will close after the UK sanctioned the son of Equatorial Guinea's president last week. Britain has barred the president's son from entry and frozen his assets.

Hundreds of people brave the rain in London to cycle 15 miles in the second annual Black Unity Bike Ride, an event that aims to "celebrate unity within the black community" and encourage more people of colour to cycle.

In rare public criticism of the UK'S NATO ally, the British government has called the US move to withdraw from Afghanistan "a mistake" because the country "is heading towards civil war."

Nepalese Gurkha veterans hold a hunger strike outside 10 Downing Street, saying they are prepared to starve themselves to death in order to receive fair pensions from the UK government.

Thousands of climate change demonstrators thronged central London on Monday, as environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion held its latest round of protests, promising two weeks of disruption.

Dozens of anti-lockdown protesters breached the offices of ITN broadcaster in London's Camden Town and made demands of journalists before the police forced them out.

Tortoise callipers and camel scales are put to good use at ZSL London Zoo, which is holding its annual animal weigh-in. While keepers put on a show for the cameras, it is important that the zoo keeps up-to-date size and weight information on its animals to compare them with animals in the wild and in other zoos, as well as to have an indication of which animals are pregnant.

The blaze continues to rage close to a popular Costa del Sol resort, fanned by strong winds and late summer temperatures. Emma Raducanu, who won the US Open tennis final as a qualifier, has been hailed as the new queen of British sport. The 18-year-old is the country's first women's Grand Slam singles champion since 1977.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta praises his team and the impact of having fans in the stadium after his team struck three times inside 35 minutes to beat Tottenham 3-1 and move above their north London rivals in the Premier League table.

A pop-up store dedicated to Queen gets ready to open in London to mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary British rock band, which continues to perform despite the death of iconic singer Freddie Mercury in 1991. Called "Queen The Greatest", the store takes visitors back to the beginnings of the band formed in 1971 and whose hits are known the world over.

Spectators leaving a 7am screening of the new James Bond 'No Time To Die' at a cinema on London's Leicester square share their enthusiasm about the film, which has finally hit movie theatres after a 18 months delay due to Covid-19.