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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

Mine Blast in Türkiye Kills Two, Leaves One Trapped

This handout photograph taken and released on October 23,2026 by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows ambulances and fire fighters vehicles in front of a coal mine following a mining accident in Zonguldak. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released on October 23,2026 by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows ambulances and fire fighters vehicles in front of a coal mine following a mining accident in Zonguldak. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
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Mine Blast in Türkiye Kills Two, Leaves One Trapped

This handout photograph taken and released on October 23,2026 by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows ambulances and fire fighters vehicles in front of a coal mine following a mining accident in Zonguldak. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)
This handout photograph taken and released on October 23,2026 by Turkish news agency DHA (Demiroren News Agency) shows ambulances and fire fighters vehicles in front of a coal mine following a mining accident in Zonguldak. (Handout / DHA (Demiroren News Agency) / AFP)

An explosion at a coal mine in northwestern Türkiye killed two people, injuring five others and leaving one miner trapped, local media reported Friday, citing the provincial governor.

The explosion was caused by "firedamp", or flammable gas, said Zonguldak governor Osman Hacibektasoglu.

"Eight people were in the tunnel, seven were rescued. Unfortunately, two of our miners died after being taken to hospital," said Zonguldak governor Osman Hacibektasoglu.

Five others were injured, he added.

"One of the miners is still inside the mine. We have made contact with him and are trying to get him out," the governor said.

Two of the injured suffered burns and were in serious condition, according to the official.

Earlier this month, five people were killed in a coal mine collapse in western Türkiye.

The deadliest mining disaster in Türkiye's history occurred in the western town of Soma in 2014, when 301 miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning following an underground fire triggered by an explosion.

Testimonies from miners and technical reports later pointed to a series of basic safety violations, including the absence of adequate carbon monoxide detection systems.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the government pushed through reforms aimed at improving safety and working conditions in the sector.

World

Romania Says Rescue Mission Underway after Black Sea Ship Fire; 1 Dead, 3 Missing

File photo: An aerial view from a helicopter shows a rescue vessel during a fire-fighting operation following an accident involving two ships, which caught fire in the Kerch Strait, near the coast of Crimea in this handout photo released by Russian Emergencies Ministry January 22, 2019. Russia's Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters/Handout via REUTERS
File photo: An aerial view from a helicopter shows a rescue vessel during a fire-fighting operation following an accident involving two ships, which caught fire in the Kerch Strait, near the coast of Crimea in this handout photo released by Russian Emergencies Ministry January 22, 2019. Russia's Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters/Handout via REUTERS
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Romania Says Rescue Mission Underway after Black Sea Ship Fire; 1 Dead, 3 Missing

File photo: An aerial view from a helicopter shows a rescue vessel during a fire-fighting operation following an accident involving two ships, which caught fire in the Kerch Strait, near the coast of Crimea in this handout photo released by Russian Emergencies Ministry January 22, 2019. Russia's Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters/Handout via REUTERS
File photo: An aerial view from a helicopter shows a rescue vessel during a fire-fighting operation following an accident involving two ships, which caught fire in the Kerch Strait, near the coast of Crimea in this handout photo released by Russian Emergencies Ministry January 22, 2019. Russia's Ministry for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters/Handout via REUTERS

Romanian authorities said Friday that a search and rescue mission is underway in the Black Sea after a cargo ship caught fire, leaving one dead and three missing.

The incident occurred about 13 nautical miles (15 miles) east of the port city of Constanta, according to the Romanian Naval Authority, and was reported around 10 a.m. local time. The ship’s crew consisted of 10 Ukrainian citizens and 3 Azerbaijanis, The Associated Press said.

The Ministry of Interior said border police were informed by the Maritime Coordination Center about a fire on board a commercial vessel, which “suffered major damage and capsized, with an imminent risk of sinking.”

“Of the 13 people on board, ten were recovered by another commercial vessel in the area, nine alive and one deceased,” the ministry said. “Three others are still missing.”

World

China Says US ‘Undermining’ Cooperation as Universities Cut Ties

The US and Chinese flag at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026, in Beijing. (AP)
The US and Chinese flag at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026, in Beijing. (AP)
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China Says US ‘Undermining’ Cooperation as Universities Cut Ties

The US and Chinese flag at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026, in Beijing. (AP)
The US and Chinese flag at the Great Hall of the People on May 14, 2026, in Beijing. (AP)

Beijing accused Washington on Friday of "undermining" scientific cooperation after the US Defense Department said dozens of American universities had cut ties with certain foreign institutions, including some in China, citing security risks.

The two governments are jostling for influence in science and technology and have often accused each other of security threats and interference.

The United States Defense Department announced on Monday that 30 US universities had "fully mitigated" their ties with a list of institutions that pose a "concern to national security".

The docket, most recently published in July, lists dozens of Chinese military, scientific and technological institutions, as well as ones in Russia and Iran.

"China is always opposed to the US practice of overstretching the concept of national security," a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said in response to a question about the US Defense Department's announcement.

"The relevant actions taken by the US side essentially coerce American institutions into 'picking sides'," the unnamed spokesperson said in a statement.

"Deliberately undermining normal scientific cooperation between China and the United States will only weaken the US' own scientific progress and innovation."

China would take "necessary measures" to protect its institutions, the spokesperson said, warning the US to stop imposing "discriminatory and restrictive measures" against them.