The British government has pledged £600 million for air defence systems for Ukraine, British Defence Minister John Healey announced yesterday. The support is intended to help repel Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy network during the winter.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ordered an ‘urgent’ investigation into foreign interference in British politics, ‘The Times’ reported yesterday. This is a direct response to the conviction in November of a Reform UK politician for accepting bribes in exchange for pro-Russian activities.more

The US has suspended a trade agreement with the UK that was intended to strengthen technological cooperation between the two countries, the ‘Financial Times’ reported yesterday. According to the newspaper, this decision undermines ambitious plans for cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum computing and nuclear energy.more

Pubs in England and Wales could stay open until 01:00 next summer if a home nation reaches the quarter-finals or further at the football World Cup. The government has launched a six-week public consultation on extending pub licensing hours to allow fans to come together and support the teams.more

The UK unemployment rate in the three months to October has increased to 5.1%, according to official figures. That marked a rise from 5% for the three months to September.more

The ‘sons and daughters’ of Great Britain must be ready to fight in the face of the growing threat from Russia, British Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff Richard Knighton said yesterday. He warned that the Russian military is growing in strength and is battle-hardened from fighting in Ukraine.more

US President Donald Trump has sued the British public broadcaster BBC, demanding $10 billion in damages for alleged defamation and violation of unfair trade practices. The lawsuit was filed yesterday in federal court in Miami, Florida.more

A court in Liverpool today sentenced Paul Doyle, who drove his car into a crowd of celebrating fans in May, to 21 years and six months in prison. The man pleaded guilty to 31 charges, including seriously injuring 29 people aged between six months and 77 years old.more

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper announced yesterday that the Chinese ambassador to the UK had been summoned in connection with the sentencing of pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who holds a British passport.more

London’s Chief Nurse called for people in the capital to come forward to get the vaccine against super flu ripping through the city so more than two million have had the jab by Christmas. Some 1.87 million Londoners had had the flu jab as of December 7, up from just over 1.8 million on November 30, 1.7 million on November 23, and slightly more than 1.6 million on November 16.more

Britain’s new spy chief is warning of the acute threat to Europe from an “aggressive, expansionist, and revisionist” Russia under Vladimir Putin. Blaise Metreweli accused the Russian president of “exporting chaos” with his war in Ukraine, air incursion into eastern Europe and hybrid warfare including against Britain.more

Electric flying taxis may become available to London airport passengers from 2028, a UK company has announced. Vertical Aerospace hopes its Valo aircraft, which has a capacity for up to six passengers, can get regulatory approval in three years – with the first planned commercial routes to include airport-to-city centre connections.more

With Brits rewatching their favourite Christmas films, they might be left wondering if there’s anywhere quite like the quaint villages taking centre stage in festive classics. One village in particular stands out - Shere in Surrey.more

The festive season is among the most turbulent periods for travel, with thousands of Britons taking planes or trains to reconnect with loved ones, whether domestically within the UK or internationally. Given that travel chaos is already expected in the lead-up to Christmas, it's crucial to grasp your rights concerning refunds and compensation should you encounter any delays or cancellations.more

Reform UK claims it is now the largest political party in Britain, following reports Labour has lost more members. According to the Times newspaper, internal figures show Labour's membership has fallen below 250,000.more

Thousands of people are set to endure a bleak Christmas sleeping rough, following record numbers of people counted on the streets for this period of the year. 2,195 people were counted sleeping rough in London in September.more

A popular high street chain is due to enforce a number of closures. River Island says a total of 33 stores will be shut by the end of January. The news comes as part of a major restructuring plan to save the high street brand, which has been approved by the High Court.more

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held talks on Saturday about the US peace plan for Ukraine, according to a spokesperson for the British Prime Minister's Office.more

In a televised address on Friday evening, British monarch Charles III stated that thanks to early diagnosis and following his doctors' recommendations, his cancer treatment plan could be completed in 2026.more

Pub landlords are banning Labour MPs from entering their pub due to increased business rates that allegedly threaten their survival. Around 50 pubs across Britain have put up a sign saying "No Labour MPs" to show their disapproval, according to restaurateurs behind the rallying cry. more

Waterstones would stock books created using artificial intelligence, the company's boss has said, as long as they were clearly labelled, and if customers wanted them. However, James Daunt, a veteran of the bookselling industry, said he personally did not expect that to happen.more

Between June 2024 and June 2025, approximately 25,000 Poles left the United Kingdom, according to a report by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE). However, there is no information about the further migration destination of these people, so it is unclear whether they returned to Poland.more

Extreme weather, like the floods and high winds of Storm Bram on December 9, is reshaping UK farming. A recent survey found that 87% of farmers have seen lower productivity because of droughts, floods or heatwaves, and major retailers now link higher food prices to weather-related harvest losses.more

Liverpool is the most generous city in the UK this year, according to figures from a fundraising platform. GoFundMe ranked the Merseyside city at the top of its list, based on the number of donors and population figures, for the second year in a row.more

UK households have thrown away an estimated 168m light-up Christmas items and other “fast-tech” gifts over the past year, a study suggests. The research by the non-profit group Material Focus found about £1.7bn was spent last year on Christmas lighting, including 39m sets of fairy lights.more