EUROPEAN FIRST AS MHRA APPROVES OVER-THE-COUNTER ALLERGY TREATMENT FOR ADOLESCENTS AGED 12 AND OVER

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 15 December 2025, approved the reclassification of fluticasone propionate (Pirinase Allergy 0.05% w/w Nasal Spray), making it available directly from behind pharmacy counters, without the need for a prescription, for adolescents aged 12 years and over. When sales begin in February 2026 it will become the first intranasal corticosteroid to ...


OFQUAL FINES PEARSON £2 MILLION FOR RULE BREACHES AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: Ofqual has fined exam board Pearson more than £2 million in total for serious breaches in 3 separate cases between 2019 and 2023 which collectively affected tens of thousands of students. The financial penalties of £750,000 each for 2 of the cases, and £505,000 for the other, are among the highest fines issued by Ofqual, reflecting the seriousness of Pearson's failures. The cases concerned: * GC...


IAA SECURES INTERIM INJUNCTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED ADVISER

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: On 12 December 2025, the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) obtained an interim injunction from Chelmsford County Court against Shazia Anjum. The Order, which remains in effect until further notice, prohibits her from the following: * providing immigration advice and/ or services in contravention of section 84 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 (the "Act"); and * advertising or promoting herself as being abl...


RAPID £140 MILLION BOOST FOR DRONE AND COUNTER-DRONE TECH FROM NEWLY-FORMED UK DEFENCE INNOVATION

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: * UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) invests over £140 million in its first year intonewdrone systems * Rapidinnovationinvestmentsupports British SMEs, Micro-SMEs and universities * Advanceddrone and counter-drone systemsfor UK Armed Forces and to counter Russian drone threat Britain's Armed Forces will be better equipped and small British defence businesses will grow rapidly as the Government boosts inve...


HOW WE PROTECTED THE UK AND SPACE IN NOVEMBER 2025

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: November saw sustained levels of space activity with collision and space weather alerts higher than in October, but with fewer uncontrolled re-entries into Earth's atmosphere. All NSpOC warning and protection services were functioning throughout the period. Re-entry analysis November saw a 20% decrease in the number of objects re-entering Earth's atmosphere, monitored by NSpOC, when compared with the previous ...


UK APPROVES THE FIRST TWICE YEARLY BIOLOGICAL MEDICINE FOR ASTHMA AND SEVERE CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS WITH NASAL POLYPS

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today (15 December 2025) approved depemokimab (Exdensur), the first twice-yearly biological medicine for use as an add-on treatment for asthma in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older, and as an add-on treatment for severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adults. Depemokimabhas been approved,via the MHRA's national as...


TOP BENEFITS FOR THE UK-SOUTH KOREA FREE TRADE DEAL

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: 1. An upgraded deal to support British exports and British jobs Our trading relationship with South Korea, the 12th largest economy in the world, has increased by 32% in current prices over the last decade, reaching £15.8 billion in 2024. With over 1.5 million people employed by UK firms exporting goods to South Korea in 2023, this deal aligns with the Industrial Strategy to help grow our economy and suppor...


STATEMENT: FCDO SUMMONS CHINESE AMBASSADOR - 15 DECEMBER 2025

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: An FCDO spokesperson said: Today, on instruction from the Foreign Secretary, the Chinese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.  Summoning the ambassador, a senior Foreign Office official was unequivocal in setting out that the UK is appalled by the politically motivated prosecution that has resulted in this verdict and called for Jimmy L...


PM CALL WITH NATO SECRETARY GENERAL MARK RUTTE: 15 DECEMBER 2025

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Prime Minister spoke to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this afternoon ahead of the meeting in Berlin of European leaders and negotiators of the US-led peace plan this evening. The leaders began by discussing the significant progress made in recent days on the peace plan and agreed that this evening is an opportunity to make further essential progress at this critical moment for Euro-Atlantic security. Bo...


MHRA WELCOMES PROFESSOR JONATHAN BENGER CBE AS NEW CEO OF NICE

LONDON, Dec. 15 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) congratulates Professor Jonathan Benger CBE on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Professor Benger's leadership comes at a pivotal time as the MHRA and NICE deepen collaboration to deliver faster, more streamlined access to innovative medicines and technologies. Joint work...