Britain

Tata inks $990.79 million loan to fund Britain's biggest battery plant

The deal is among the three largest foreign currency loans for an Indian company this year

UK inflation slows to 2.6% in March, lowest level in three months

Falling fuel prices and unchanged food costs helped bring down the inflation rate but the price of clothes rose strongly after a surprise fall in February

Hong Kong defends immigration procedures after British MP denied entry

Hong Kong's government on Monday defended its immigration procedures after a British member of parliament was denied entry to the Chinese city last week, an incident that has prompted concerns among UK officials. Wera Hobhouse, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party representing Bath, on Sunday wrote on the social media platform Bluesky that authorities gave her no explanation for what she described as a cruel and upsetting blow. She noted that she was the first British MP to face such a situation upon arrival in the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997. Hobhouse had told British media that she flew to Hong Kong to visit her newborn grandchild. She is also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China that has scrutinised Beijing's human rights record. The Hong Kong government, in a statement released late Monday, maintained that its immigration officers are duty-bound to question individuals to ascertain the purpose of any visit. The person ..

UK makes $26 bn export finance support available amid US tariff turmoil

The tariffs, introduced by US President Donald Trump, have deepened uncertainty for UK businesses about their exposure to the new trade regime

UK reduces import tariffs on everyday essentials in a bid to boost growth

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) stated that the UK Global Tariff will face a temporary suspension for 89 products

UK govt takes over British steel operations from Chinese owner Jingye

The UK government took effective control of Britain's last remaining factory that makes steel from scratch from its Chinese owners, after lawmakers approved an emergency rescue. Prime Minister Keir Starmer summoned lawmakers for the unusual Saturday sitting, only the sixth since World War II, to back a bill primarily aimed at blocking British Steel's Chinese owners, Jingye Group, from closing the two massive blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant in the north of England that are key in the steelmaking process. The bill, which was debated over several hours and which is now law after being given royal ascent by King Charles III, gives Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds the power to direct the company's board and workforce, ensure its 3,000 workers get paid and order the raw materials necessary to keep the blast furnaces running. Jingye has said the Scunthorpe plant is losing 700,000 pounds ($910,000) a day as a result of challenging market conditions and increased environmental ...

UK steps up Ukraine aid as Western allies rally to secure arms, ammunition

Britain on Friday announced a surge of military support to Ukraine, as the war-ravaged country's Western backers gathered at NATO headquarters to drum up more weapons and ammunition to help fight off the Russian invasion. Britain said that in a joint effort with Norway just over $580 million would be spent to provide hundreds of thousands of military drones, radar systems and anti-tank mines, as well as repair and maintenance contracts to keep Ukrainian armoured vehicles on the battlefield. On the eve of the meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said a key issue was strengthening his country's air defences. Ukraine needs a sufficient number of modern systems like Patriot missile systems, he said in a post on social media. A political decision is needed to supply these systems to protect our cities, towns, and the lives of our people especially from the threat of Russian ballistic weapons. Our partners have such available systems, Umerov said. Russian forces

British PM visits JLR's UK headquarters amid Trump's car tariff turmoil

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer chose the UK headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), the country's largest carmaker owned by Tata Motors, to deliver a key speech on Monday amid ongoing turmoil unleashed by US President Donald Trump's global trade tariffs. The car industry is among the worst hit as it has been targeted with 25 per cent tariffs on imported vehicles and prompted Starmer to pledge a change of course on the UK's electric vehicle (EV) regulations to support carmakers such as JLR. It follows the firm's recent announcement that it would pause shipments to the US as it assesses the impact of the new trading terms. I think EV targets are a good thing, they're good for the climate, good for business certainty and investment, good for British manufacturing, said Starmer, addressing JLR workers in the West Midlands region of England. "But I accept that those targets have to work for British manufacturers and I don't want British firms like this one put in a position where y

UK, UAE, US withdraw nearly $1 billion from Pakistan's treasury bills

Pakistan has witnessed major outflows of foreign investment with just three countries withdrawing nearly USD 1 billion from the treasury bills during the current financial year. According to the State Bank of Pakistan, between July 1 and March 14 this fiscal year, inflows into T-bills totalled USD 1.163 billion while outflows stood at USD 1.121 billion, leaving a net balance of just USD 42 million. The withdrawal of USD 1 billion has left the outflows almost matching total inflows in Pakistan's fragile economy leading to investor caution despite attractive returns. The United Kingdom, traditionally Pakistan's largest T-bill investor, had invested USD 710 million during FY25 but withdrew USD 625 million. The United Arab Emirates and the United States recorded outflows of USD 205 million and USD 130 million, respectively. The Pakistan government to bring in foreign inflows has announced higher yields on its T-bills in comparison to most developed and developing economies. A financi

UK foreign secretary calls Israeli detention of two MPs 'unacceptable'

Lammy further emphasised the UK government's commitment to supporting the MPs and reiterated its focus on achieving a ceasefire

UK's Primark boss Paul Marchant resigns after 'error of judgement'

The group said that Marchant had cooperated with an investigation led by external lawyers, acknowledged his error of judgement

King Charles III seen in public a day after hospitalisation for treatment

King Charles III was briefly hospitalised for observation on Thursday after experiencing "temporary side effects" related to a scheduled cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said in a statement. His engagements for Thursday afternoon and Friday were cancelled. "His majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow's diary programme will also be rescheduled," the palace said. "His majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result," it added. The king's health has been closely watched ever since early last year when he announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Charles, 76, stepped away from public duties for about three months but continued fulfilling state duties, such as reviewing government papers and meeting with the prime minister. Charles' cancer diagnosis has heaped pressure on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after

SL criticises Britain's 'unilateral' sanctions on its former generals

Sri Lanka on Wednesday slammed the British government's "unilateral action" to sanction its three former military commanders, who led the campaign that crushed the LTTE in 2009, saying the move will complicate the national reconciliation process. A UK foreign office statement Monday said Sri Lanka's three military commanders - former Army Commanders Gen Shavendra Silva, Jagath Jayasuriya and former Navy Commander Wasantha Karannagoda - were among those sanctioned and subjected to UK travel bans and asset freezes. The UK government also sanctioned Vinyagamurthy Muralidaran, the deputy leader of the LTTE, who later turned a rebel of the group and became a deputy minister in the national parliament. In a statement on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that "such unilateral actions by countries do not assist but serve to complicate the national reconciliation process underway in Sri Lanka". "The government is in the process of strengthening domestic mechanisms on ...

UK sanctions 4, including Sri Lanka military commanders, for rights abuses

The UK has sanctioned four individuals, including military commanders, who had led the Sri Lankan government's successful campaign against the LTTE in 2009, for human rights abuses and violations. A UK foreign office statement on Monday said General Shavendra Silva, former Head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Wasantha Karannagoda, former Navy Commander, and Jagath Jayasuriya, former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, and Vinyagamurthy Muralidaran, the deputy leader of the LTTE who later turned a rebel of the group and became a deputy minister in the national parliament, were sanctioned and subjected to UK travel bans and asset freezes. The UK government has imposed sanctions on 4 individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations during the Sri Lanka civil war, including extrajudicial killings, torture and/or perpetration of sexual violence," the statement said. The UK government's sanctions on General Silva follow a similar action against him by the US State ...

Look forward to fostering ties with partners in UK, says Mamata Banerjee

Speaking at the High Commission of India in London where she attended a high-tea reception, CM Banerjee called the relationship very deep

UK welfare spending cuts pose unexpected risk to carmakers' EV ambitions

A review of the benefits system announced in recent days could hit a car-financing program called Motability, which provides vehicles to disabled customers on mobility benefits

Britain pledges $775 million to tackle construction skills shortages

Housebuilding and improving British infrastructure are key parts of the Labour government's growth strategy

BoE set to keep UK rate unchanged at 4.50% despite gloomy economic news

The Bank of England is set to keep UK interest rates unchanged Thursday even though the economy is barely growing and set for further uncertainty in light of the tariff policies being enacted by the Trump administration in the US. The nine-member Monetary Policy Committee is expected to keep the bank's main interest rate at 4.50%, given that inflation remains above target and set to go higher in the coming months, as firms are expected to raise prices as a result of a big increase in the minimum wage and higher payroll taxes. Inflation in the UK rose to a 10-month high of 3% in January further above the bank's target of 2%. And many economists think it could rise as high as 4% in the coming months. The rate-setting panel has reduced the bank's main rate from a 16-year high of 5.25% by a quarter of a percentage on three occasions since last August, most recently in February, after inflation fell from multi-decade highs of over 10%. If it pursues this gradual approach, then it would

UK, EU to ramp up pressure on Russia and boost defence initiatives

The talks will coordinate cooperation on Ukraine and discuss efforts to increase economic pressure on Russia, UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement

Carney meets Britain, Germany leaders as Trump targets Canada's sovereignty

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney met the leaders of Britain and France on Monday during his first official overseas trip, seeking support from two of Ottawa's oldest allies as US President Donald Trump targets Canada's sovereignty and economy. Canadians have criticized the leaders of the two countries that founded Canada for their muted response to Trump's attacks. The president has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and repeatedly commented on turning Canada into the 51st state. Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron did not take journalists' questions, and a joint news conference was not scheduled with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, either. An official familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly, said the Canadians proposed a press conference in Paris but the French declined. Starmer has called Canada a friend and ally of the U.K. but has declined to directly call out Trump's talk of annexati