Britain | DD News

October 8, 2025 8:48 PM

Starmer denies trying to appease China, says spying case dropped on legal grounds

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday rejected accusations that Britain tried to appease China by dropping a prosecution against two men accused of spying for Beijing, insisting the decision was based on legal constraints, not political motives. In an unexpected move, British prosecutors last month dropped charges against the men just weeks before they were due to go on trial. The men had been accused of passing politically sensitive information to a Chinese intelligence agent. Christopher ...

September 29, 2025 10:24 PM

UK publishes new sanctions over Iran nuclear programme

The British government sanctioned dozens of Iranian-linked individuals and entities on Monday, following similar moves made by the United Nations and the European Union aimed at curbing what Britain described as Iran's nuclear proliferation efforts. Britain, France and Germany initiated the return of sanctions on Iran at the U.N. Security Council over accusations it had violated a 2015 deal that aimed to stop it developing a nuclear bomb. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. On Monday, Britain...

September 11, 2025 1:49 PM

UK to mass produce Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones

Britain said on Wednesday it would mass produce Ukrainian-designed interceptor drones to help Ukraine counter Russian missiles and one-way attack drones. The joint project had a target to produce thousands of drones per month, which would each cost less than 10% to make compared to the targets they were designed to intercept, the government said in a statement. In June, Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced a defence co-production initiative. Earlie...

September 9, 2025 5:17 PM

London commuters turn to bikes and boats as Tube strike enters second day

Commuters in London turned to bikes, buses and boats on Tuesday as a staff strike shut down the capital's underground "Tube" network for a second day. With almost no underground trains running until Friday, demand for shared bike services and river transport surged as Londoners looked for alternative ways to get to work, causing longer journeys and crowding on other parts of the transport network. The London-based Centre for Economics and Business Research estimates the strike will have a dire...

August 28, 2025 7:21 PM

UK summons Russian ambassador after Kyiv hit by missiles, drones overnight

Britain's foreign minister said on Thursday he had summoned the Russian ambassador to the UK, after Russia pounded Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, killing at least 15 people and damaging buildings, including the British Council in Kyiv. "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin's strikes last night killed civilians, destroyed homes and damaged buildings, including the British Council and EU Delegation in Kyiv," Lammy said on his social media account on X. He added: "We have summoned the ...

August 14, 2025 2:05 PM

Could robotics and timber tackle Britain’s housing challenges?

Gigantic robot arms controlled by artificial intelligence glide around a vast factory in Oxfordshire, England, making building frames from timber, one of the world's oldest construction materials. With the British government committed to building 300,000 new homes a year, some housebuilders say that the combination of technology and green materials could help them to overcome challenges from skills shortages to environmental targets. England lags many similar economies in terms of the share of...

August 14, 2025 2:02 PM

UK economy slows less than expected in second quarter

Britain's economy slowed less than expected in the second quarter of 2025 after a strong start to the year, despite the shock of U.S. trade tariffs and a weaker jobs market, offering some relief to finance minister Rachel Reeves. Official figures published on Thursday showed gross domestic product grew 0.3% in the second quarter after growth of 0.7% in the first three months of 2025, above the 0.1% forecast by the Bank of England and a Reuters poll of economists. Sterling rose slightly against...

July 30, 2025 9:06 AM

Britain warns Israel it could recognise Palestinian state as Gaza starvation spreads

Britain said on Tuesday it would recognise a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza, where starvation is spreading, and reaches a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war with Hamas. The warning, which drew a harsh Israeli rebuke, came after a hunger monitor said a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death. Palestinian authorities said more than 60,000 Palestinians were now confirmed killed by I...

July 25, 2025 4:45 PM

India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement: A Diplomatic Win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his visit to the United Kingdom, signing the Free Trade Agreement with the island nation. The FTA was being negotiated for a few years now, and the signing marks an important diplomatic win for the Modi Government. As the world finds itself engulfed in tariff wars, initiated by the White House under Donald Trump, the FTA comes across as a sign of economic trust between two critical economies. While global trade is now plagued with an air of uncertainty and...