Ministry of defence; steward of a nation's armed forces
ScottishPower Renewables has lodged plans to repower Whitelee Windfarm, replacing 215 turbines with about 124 taller units in three phases. The £1.5bn project aims to double output to 1GW and keep the site accessible to visitors; full operation is expected by 2035. The move follows solid half‑year profits, driven by renewables and grid investments.
A sweeping heatwave has intensified wildfires across southern France and parts of central Spain. Evacuations are underway, dozens of firefighting aircraft are deployed, and authorities warn that the fires could worsen as temperatures stay high.
Western officials say Moscow’s surface fleet remains stretched as it steps up escort duties for the shadow fleet, moving oil and evading sanctions. NATO reports show ships are being boarded for intelligence, while submarines remain a strategic asset. Tensions near European waters are rising as live-fire drills and shadow-escort operations draw closer to allied forces.
The UK government has stopped in-country assistance for relocating eligible Afghans who worked with British forces, directing them to seek relocation via third countries. The move comes as MPs, lawyers, and advocates warn of hardship and risk for Afghan allies left behind, with ongoing debates over safety and access to asylum.
The global conversation on unidentified anomalous phenomena has intensified as researchers publish new findings and institutions formalize collaboration. A Guardian feature traces shifts in policy and public interest, while related reporting underscores ongoing interest in official programs and whistleblower disclosures.
Defence ministers are negotiating funding for the Defence Investment Plan as the government considers how to meet targets for defence spending. The debate has moved from initial allocations to how to fund a sustained increase while balancing other public budgets.
A June 18 Makerfield by-election has become a national leadership test after Labour has installed Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham as its candidate. A string of ministerial resignations and polling showing Reform UK divided with a Farage splinter have left Keir Starmervulnerable; a Burnham win will force a leadership contest and intensify political instability.
British forces have boarded and detained the oil tanker Smyrtos in the English Channel. Royal Marine commandos and National Crime Agency officers have boarded the sanctioned vessel during a six-hour operation; the ship is being held off the south coast while authorities investigate and monitor for environmental or safety risks.
The Defence Investment Plan has become a flashpoint as Dan Jarvis reviews the scheme and signals possible pressure on the Treasury. Healey’s resignation has sharpened debate over targets and timelines for defence spending, ahead of the NATO summit and G7 discussions.
Several vessels carrying Indian sailors have been targeted in the Gulf of Oman as the US enforces a blockade on Iranian oil. Attacks have killed three Indian sailors and injured others, prompting New Delhi to lodge protests and push for a de‑escalation of tensions.
British defence leadership has warned that current spending plans are not enough to meet Nato targets, with resignations from ministers intensifying calls to accelerate funding. Dan Jarvis is seeking to finalise the Defence Investment Plan amid scrutiny from Nato and allies, while the government insists it has increased defence spending since coming to power.
A Russian frigate fired warning shots near a British civilian yacht in the Channel, outside UK waters, after attempts to contact the vessel failed. The yacht was on a southbound course toward Cherbourg when the incident occurred. UK MoD describes it as an isolated event; Russia says the yacht was on a dangerous course. No injuries are reported.
The government is expanding use of former military sites to house asylum seekers, planning to accommodate about 3,750 people across Bicester, Barnham and Linton-on-Ouse, with extensions at Crowborough and Wethersfield. Local opposition persists in several communities as the plan unfolds.
The Defence Investment Plan has been revised to prioritise frontline equipment, drones and rapid-reaction forces. Dan Jarvis has secured additional funding and the plan emphasizes high-speed boats, strike drones and uncrewed vessels, with a focus on the High North amid rising Russian activity. The plan aims to equip troops faster while addressing concerns about funding gaps and the pace of modern warfare.
The incoming UK prime minister is urged to boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 as experts warn current plans are too bare to deter threats from Moscow. A Defence Investment Plan is due to be published before the NATO summit, with ministers negotiating funding amid resignations in the MoD.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has been published, detailing a 2.7% of GDP defence spend by 2029 with a 3% target in the next Parliament. The plan shifts funding away from road and energy projects to weapons, drones, and naval capabilities, while promising efficiencies and a long-term upgrade in nuclear deterrence. Several ministers have resigned over the funding levels amid a controversial rollout that may be revisited by a new prime minister.
The Defence Investment Plan has been unveiled, allocating billions to naval upgrades at Clyde and Rosyth, nuclear deterrent readiness, and a radical drone transformation for the armed forces. The plan emphasizes British-anchored infrastructure and domestic shipbuilding in Scotland amid concerns over offshoring work.
Keir Starmer's defence investment plan has increased funding but critics warn it remains short of targets and is not fully funded, amid concerns about the strategy and regional impacts.
The Defence Investment Plan has uplifted defence spending by £15bn over four years, but almost a third remains unfunded. Downing Street says the autumn Budget will spell out how the gap will be filled, while Labour and defence chiefs warn of tax rises or spending cuts unless additional funding is secured.
The government has announced a defence investment plan raising the defence budget by a total of 15 billion pounds over four years, with questions over funding gaps and how it will meet NATO targets. Burnham is tipped to take over as prime minister, while debates continue over how the funds will be sourced and allocated.
Andy Burnham has reiterated that there is room for movement on tax within Labour’s 2024 manifesto while outlining possible changes to business rates to support high streets and pubs. He has not promised revenue-raising measures on income tax, VAT or National Insurance but is considering reforms to business rates and targeted reliefs as part of his broader policy package.
The UK has sanctioned Russian individuals and institutes over chemical weapon usage and a Russian Bear-F aircraft has been intercepted near HMS Prince of Wales in the Norwegian Sea amid NATO operations. The incident comes as Britain stresses safety and prods Russia over its conduct at sea and in airspace.
The Defence Investment Plan has raised questions about whether the UK will reach Nato’s 3.5% of GDP core defence target by 2035. Recent reporting shows critics arguing that the plan edges the target without fully funding it, while ministers insist the trajectory remains on track.
The Covid inquiry has found a “vast” waste of taxpayers’ money in PPE procurement during the pandemic, with almost two-thirds of the £14.9bn spent wasted. It criticises the VIP lane for favoured contracts and highlights inadequate stockpiles and planning.
Campaigners in the Chinook HC-2 case have pressed for a new independent review into the Mull of Kintyre crash, arguing airworthiness concerns call into question the aircraft’s safety. The MoD contends the challenge is too late; the High Court continues to hear the case.
The nuclear test veterans’ case has been reinforced as a two-year MoD review confirms that medical data was withheld, destroyed or missing for decades. Ministers have signalled a path toward reparations and a formal tribunal, while criminal investigations edge forward.
The new prime minister has framed a vision to end four decades of neoliberalism, promising public control over key services and a mass council-housebuilding programme. Cabinet choices signal cautious, market-facing restraint as dare to shift policy remains contested.
At Farnborough, Boeing’s Ghost Bat leads a pack of rival autonomous combat aircraft, with General Atomics, Anduril, and Lockheed Martin unveiling or showcasing models. The U.S. Air Force aims for a price well under $80 million per jet and expects hundreds of aircraft annually by the mid-2030s, as world powers invest in crewed-uncrewed teaming and next‑generation combat air power.