Britain will immediately suspend 30 of its 350 arms export licenses with Israel because there was a risk such equipment might be used to commit serious violations of international humanitarian law, foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday. Lammy said the decision to suspend the licenses did not amount to a blanket ban or an arms embargo, but … Read more
The mailbox bears King Charles’ cypher and the monogram with the initials ‘C’ and ‘R. London: The first red mail pillar box to bear the cypher of King Charles was unveiled on Friday, keeping up a tradition dating back almost 175 years. The new box has been installed on the High Street in Great Cambourne, … Read more
Britain’s new government is prioritising avoiding job losses in talks with Tata Steel over government backing for a transition to lower-carbon technologies, business minister Jonathan Reynolds said on Sunday. Tata, Britain’s biggest steel producer, started closing one of its carbon-intensive blast furnaces on Thursday while the shutdown of its other one is slated for September, … Read more
Labour leader Keir Starmer is a former human rights lawyer turned state prosecutor whose ruthless ambition and formidable work ethic look set to propel him to Britain’s highest political office. The 61-year-old, named after Labour’s founding father Keir Hardie, is the centre-left opposition party’s most working-class leader in decades. “My dad was a toolmaker, my … Read more
The trip will be the emperor’s second official state visit since his accession to the throne in 2019. London: Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako arrive in Britain on Saturday ahead of a three-day state visit hosted by King Charles III. The royal couple are due to touch down on a flight from Japan and … Read more
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday called a snap general election for July 4, ending weeks of speculation and setting up a possible political sea change for the United Kingdom. Sunak made the announcement outside 10 Downing Street after holding a meeting of his cabinet where he informed them of his plans to dissolve … Read more
The International Monetary Fund warned Britain’s government on Tuesday that it was on course to miss its debt target and should not cut taxes before an election later this year, with tax rises likely to be needed in future. The IMF increased its projection for British economic growth in 2024 to 0.7% from an April … Read more
The names and bank details of thousands of serving British soldiers, sailors and air force members have been exposed in a data breach by a “malign actor” who may have had state help, defence officials said Tuesday. The Ministry of Defence said the breach occurred at a third-party payroll system holding bank details of as … Read more
The British government’s plan for a landmark smoking ban that aims to stop young people from ever smoking cleared its first hurdle in Parliament on Tuesday despite vocal opposition from within Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party. The bill, a key policy announced by Sunak last year, would make it illegal to sell tobacco products … Read more
The United Kingdom is hitting pause on negotiations for a new free trade agreement with Canada, with the British government claiming “progress is not being made.” The statement shared by Susannah Goshko, the British high commissioner to Canada, on Thursday came less than a month before the next round of talks towards a permanent trade … Read more
