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Britain to Build Billion-Pound Weapons Works as Starmer Calls for War Readiness

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference, following a deal on the Chagos Islands, at a military headquarters in London, Britain May 22, 2025. Thomas Krych/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference, following a deal on the Chagos Islands, at a military headquarters in London, Britain May 22, 2025. Thomas Krych/Pool via REUTERS
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Britain to Build Billion-Pound Weapons Works as Starmer Calls for War Readiness

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference, following a deal on the Chagos Islands, at a military headquarters in London, Britain May 22, 2025. Thomas Krych/Pool via REUTERS
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a press conference, following a deal on the Chagos Islands, at a military headquarters in London, Britain May 22, 2025. Thomas Krych/Pool via REUTERS

Britain must be ready to fight and win a war against states with advanced military forces, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said as his government announced a 1.5 billion-pound ($2.0 billion) plan to build at least six new weapons and explosives factories.
Starmer's warning came a day before he publishes a major review of Britain's military capabilities. The UK and countries across Europe are rapidly trying to boost their defense industries after US President Donald Trump said the continent had to take more responsibility for its own security.
"We are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, so we must be ready to fight and win," Starmer wrote in an article for The Sun on Sunday newspaper, citing as examples Russia's invasion of Ukraine and its co-operation with Iran and North Korea.
Defense Minister John Healey announced the munitions investment program in a BBC interview on Sunday, describing it as "a message to Moscow" as well as a way to stimulate the country's sluggish economy.
The Ministry of Defense said it would procure up to 7,000 long-range weapons, built in Britain. The extra investment means Britain will spend around 6 billion pounds on munitions in the current parliament, the MoD said.
The Sunday Times reported the government wanted to purchase US-made fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons. The MoD did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report.
The Strategic Defense Review, commissioned by Starmer's Labor government shortly after it won power last July, will set out the threats Britain faces and the military equipment and services needed to meet them.
Starmer has already committed to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level over the longer term.
The government has already announced a billion-pound plan to invest in Artificial Intelligence that can be used to enhance battlefield decision-making, and has separately committed to spend an extra 1.5 billion pounds to tackle the poor state of housing for the country's armed forces.

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World

US Attacks Iran, IRGC Says Strait of Hormuz to Remain Closed ‘Until Further Notice’

A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet takes off from a base in the Middle East (US Army file photo)
A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet takes off from a base in the Middle East (US Army file photo)
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US Attacks Iran, IRGC Says Strait of Hormuz to Remain Closed ‘Until Further Notice’

A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet takes off from a base in the Middle East (US Army file photo)
A US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet takes off from a base in the Middle East (US Army file photo)

The United States attacked Iran early Sunday morning over an Iranian attack on a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, setting the container ship ablaze and forcing its crew to abandon it.

The strait has become the key sticking point in any further negotiations between Iran and the United States to find a permanent end to the war that began back on Feb. 28.

About a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war began. Iran’s grip on it during the war led to a global energy crisis, though oil prices have sharply dropped since wartime highs of $120 a barrel.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) said multiple vessels “disregarded our warnings and instructions to correct their course and proceed along the approved route.” One of them “was struck by a warning shot and brought to a stop.”

Iran said that the strait would remain closed “until further notice” and said it would consider targeting “additional enemy bases in the region” if it faced more attacks.

The US attacks on Iran apparently targeted Bandar Abbas and Sirik, as well as other areas, along the shores of the strait, Iran state media reported. Iran offered no immediate information about casualties or damage.

US forces completed a third round of strikes this week against Iran, hitting approximately 140 Iranian ⁠military targets, the ⁠Central Command said late on Saturday ⁠in a post on X.

Targets included Iranian missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communication networks, ⁠and ⁠coastal surveillance locations, the Central Command added.

 

World

US Lawmaker Says He Was ‘Detained’ by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

US Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (Reuters)
US Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (Reuters)
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US Lawmaker Says He Was ‘Detained’ by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

US Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (Reuters)
US Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA) speaks with a Palestinian resident of Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, during a visit in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, July 9, 2026. (Reuters)

A prominent Democratic US lawmaker from California, Ro Khanna, said Saturday he was "detained" by armed Israeli settlers along with other Americans during a visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank and said the military was complicit in the incident.

"Israeli settlers, brandishing American made M4s, detained me & other Americans on my trip to Palestine," Khanna said in a post on X.

When the Israeli military arrived at the scene, he added, "they sided with the settlers & continued our detention. They made a huge mistake."

Footage and accounts provided to The New York Times by Khanna and his team shows a group of armed men blocking the road outside a small village in the southern West Bank and swearing at them in Hebrew and Arabic.

Khanna told the Times that when the Israeli troops arrived at the scene, the soldiers spoke to the settlers and subsequently blocked the road themselves when the settlers left.

After calls to the US embassy and Israeli police, Khanna said he was allowed to pass.

The Israeli army did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment.

The United States is a staunch ally of Israel, but some lawmakers, especially Democrats, have vehemently criticized Israel's military offensive in Gaza, and more generally the treatment of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

World

Floods in Bangladesh Kill 44, Leave Over a Million Stranded

11 July 2026, Bangladesh, Dhaka: People wade through floodwaters in Dhaka, after torrential rain caused severe flooding and waterlogging across parts of the country. (dpa)
11 July 2026, Bangladesh, Dhaka: People wade through floodwaters in Dhaka, after torrential rain caused severe flooding and waterlogging across parts of the country. (dpa)
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Floods in Bangladesh Kill 44, Leave Over a Million Stranded

11 July 2026, Bangladesh, Dhaka: People wade through floodwaters in Dhaka, after torrential rain caused severe flooding and waterlogging across parts of the country. (dpa)
11 July 2026, Bangladesh, Dhaka: People wade through floodwaters in Dhaka, after torrential rain caused severe flooding and waterlogging across parts of the country. (dpa)

Floods and landslides triggered by days of torrential monsoon rain have killed at least 44 people in southeastern Bangladesh and left over a million stranded as authorities raced on Saturday to deliver aid to devastated communities.

The disaster management ministry said on Saturday that flooding across seven districts — Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Khagrachhari, Moulvibazar and Habiganj — has disrupted daily life, isolated thousands of families, and stranded 267,918 households.

Power outages, damaged roads and broken communication ‌links have slowed ‌rescue and relief efforts. Many residents have been unable ‌to ⁠cook for days ⁠as flood waters submerged their homes, while others are struggling after thick layers of mud covered kitchens and living spaces.

“There is still water inside our home and we have no way to cook. The dry food we had has run out, and we spend the nights in the dark with our children because there is no ⁠electricity,” said Nurul Islam, a resident of a flood-hit ‌area in Chattogram.

Thousands of families are ‌relying on dry food — flattened rice, puffed rice or biscuits that do ‌not require cooking — and emergency relief. Washed-out roads and damaged bridges, ‌however, have made it difficult for aid workers to reach some of the hardest-hit communities.

Army and navy personnel are ferrying food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies by boat to isolated communities, as authorities step up relief ‌efforts.

"The government is doing everything possible to support flood victims. Relief, safe drinking water and medical supplies are ⁠being distributed, ⁠and we urge people whose homes have been inundated to move to the nearest shelter," Disaster Management and Relief Minister Iqbal Hossain said during a visit to affected areas in Chattogram.

The heavy rain also triggered landslides in Rohingya refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar earlier this week, killing 16 refugees, including women and children. More than one million Rohingya refugees live in the camps, where makeshift shelters on steep, deforested hillsides are especially vulnerable during the monsoon season.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, with seasonal monsoon rains regularly causing floods, river erosion and landslides. Scientists say climate change is making extreme rainfall more frequent and intense, increasing the scale and severity of such disasters.