UK

The International Monetary Fund cut Britain's growth outlook for 2021 on Tuesday due to a resurgence in coronavirus cases, and forecast it would take until next year before the economy regains its pre-pandemic strength.

British retail sales have suffered their most widespread annual drop since May this month, according to a survey published on Tuesday which suggests that the latest lockdown is taking a heavy toll on many shops.

AstraZeneca has offered to bring forward some deliveries of its COVID-19 vaccine to the European Union while the bloc has asked the British drugmaker if it can divert doses from the UK to make up for a shortfall in supplies, European officials told Reuters.

Shared concern over climate change could help strengthen global cooperation more broadly in the run-up to a U.N. climate summit in November, its British president Alok Sharma said on Tuesday.

At Tricker's, a 192 year-old maker of English luxury shoes beloved by Prince Charles and Japanese fashionistas, relief at averting a no-deal Brexit quickly turned to dismay at the new price of doing business with the European Union.

British finance minister Rishi Sunak said he recognised the risks still being faced by companies because of COVID-19 lockdowns, and that he was reviewing support measures ahead of his March 3 budget statement.

Aviva has set deadlines in late February to receive final offers for its operations in France and Poland - a deal that would help the British insurer streamline its operations and raise an overall 5.5 billion euros ($6.67 billion), sources told Reuters.

British stocks rose on Tuesday after drugmaker AstraZeneca denied reports that its COVID-19 vaccine was less effective in the elderly population, while Indivior surged after its former parent withdrew a $1.4 billion legal claim.

A group of 31 London police officers face being fined 200 pounds ($275) each after they broke strict COVID-19 lockdown rules to have their haircut while on duty, their force said on Tuesday.