United Kingdom

The UK energy sector is under direct strain from Middle East supply disruptions. Shell suspended some LNG deliveries from Qatar and its CEO warned Europe could face fuel shortages by April, while BP sold a German refinery. Concurrently, British Airways extended flight suspensions to Middle East destinations.

• 11Shell suspends some LNG deliveries from Qatar due to supply disruption
• 10HSBC considers cutting thousands of jobs in major AI overhaul
• 8Shell CEO warns Europe could face fuel shortages by April
• 8Arm starts making and selling its own chips for the first time
• 8BP sells German refinery to investor, Shell's Qatar plant damaged after attack

UK Prime Minister Starmer is under sustained, high-volume criticism from Trump over his Iran policy. Starmer has defended his decision not to join US-Israeli strikes on Iran and stated Iran is not targeting Britain with missiles, while also allowing the US to use British bases for strikes on Iranian threats in the Strait of Hormuz.

• 28UK's Starmer defends decision not to join US-Israeli strikes on Iran
• 17UK allows US to use British bases for strikes on Iranian threats in Strait of Hormuz
• 10British prime minister was warned about Mandelson's Epstein ties before appointment
• 8UK Prime Minister says Iran is not targeting Britain with missiles
• 7Starmer and Trump discuss reopening Strait of Hormuz amid Iran tensions

The UK is engaged in active military confrontation with Iran. Iran fired missiles at a joint US-UK base in the Indian Ocean and an Iranian-made drone hit a British air base in Cyprus, prompting Britain and France to send warships and air defense to the region. Domestically, Jewish charity ambulances were set on fire in a suspected antisemitic attack in London.

• 34Iranian-made drone hits British air base in Cyprus, causing limited damage
• 33Jewish charity ambulances set on fire in London in suspected antisemitic attack
• 12Four arrested in London on suspicion of spying for Iran
• 8UK deploys nuclear submarine to Arabian Sea amid tensions with Iran
• 8UK considers sending drones to help keep Strait of Hormuz open

A meningitis outbreak is the dominant societal concern, with an urgent health alert in Kent and student panic following two deaths. This public health emergency overshadows other developments, including the banning of the Al Quds Day march and the purchase of the Telegraph by Axel Springer.

• 7London Iranians, Jews celebrate Khamenei's death together
• 6Meningitis outbreak grows in UK with urgent health alert in Kent
• 4Pro-Iranian protesters march through London
• 3Iranian diaspora in London hoping for end of regime but face attacks
• 3Britain rushes to contain ‘unprecedented’ meningitis outbreak