London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Oct 17, 2026

Today's news from Britain - 9th February 2023

First up, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is in the UK seeking more arms against Russia following a surge of military deliveries and training for its pilots.
Since Boris Johnson resigned last year, PM Rishi Sunak has pledged to continue to support Ukraine, visiting Kyiv in November to tell the Ukrainian leader: “We are with you all the way.”

Britain has trained 10,000 Ukrainian troops brought to battle readiness and will train a further 20,000 soldiers this year.

Last week, Ukrainian troops arrived in Britain to learn how to command Challenger 2 tanks and Sunak will offer to provide Ukraine with longer-range capabilities.

London has so far refused to deliver fighter jets, saying it was not “the right approach” for now. But defence minister Ben Wallace has suggested that stance could change.

Next, Microsoft's 69 billion dollar takeover of Activision may be blocked by the UK watchdog, while the Call of Duty maker responds with claims that the regulator doesn't understand the gaming industry.

This is, of course, an absurd claim. Because, if the regulator could understand the gaming industry, he would get for himself a real and profitable job, instead of regulating things he has no idea about, and blocking innovation and progress as regulators normally do.

Because - and it’s time to say it straight and out loud - the real mission of regulators, as we all know, is to protect the establishment - which appointed the regulators - from innovation and progress that will enrich new companies and disrupt the Establishment's profitable status quo.

Now to Britain’s politics. In fact, nothing much new. The government keep changing, firing and hiring ministers faster then the ministers are changing their socks. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has reshuffled his government's top posts ahead of an expected election, with Liz Truss' return to the political fray highlighting his weakness within his party.

But don’t worry. You can always count on the Tories to do the right thing ... after they've tried everything else.

Meanwhile, the EU corruption scandal has been labelled a 'socialist problem' by the conservatives’ boss Thanasis Bakolas, as if there is any difference between the socialists and the conservatives, as regards their predilection for bribery.

British Petroleum reported record annual profits as they scale back their climate targets, while Bill Gates defends his use of private jets amid the fight against climate change.

Britons may face a 20,000 digital pound cap under Bank of England plans and Rishi Sunak is reportedly merging the UK's trade and business departments in a Whitehall shake-up.

These are just a few highlights we’ve picked up for you today, from the London Daily edition of the CNNBC.

Stay tuned for the most interesting news about Britain and around the world, at CNNBC.com.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Russell Brand Trial Begins at Southwark Crown Court
UK Parliament to Debate Climate Risks and Council Tax Following Public Petitions
Department for Transport Demands Safety Audits Following Regional Rail Disruptions
House of Lords Scrutinizes Amendments to Armed Forces Bill
Devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales Criticize Post-Brexit Funding Framework
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Defends Middle East Military Support Under Parliamentary Scrutiny
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Pressure on Hospitals from Winter Virus Outbreaks
Retailers and Business Groups Lobby Chancellor for Relief from Rising Employment Taxes
City of London Taskforce Urges Radical Reform to Prevent UK From Becoming "Incubator Nation"
Bank of England Officials Signal Potential November Interest Rate Hike
Institute for Fiscal Studies Warns of £35 Billion Funding Gap in Upcoming Autumn Budget
IMF Upgrades UK Growth Forecast to 1.3% for 2026
Former UUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson sentenced to 15 years in prison for historical child sex offences
UK ministers adopt independent commission blueprint to fast-track AI in the NHS
Labour leadership orders local councillors to end power-sharing deals with Green Party
UK government considers regulatory intervention in proposed Sky and ITV merger
Environment Agency declares severe drought across six English regions as reservoirs hit critical lows
NHS England issues new guidance prohibiting transgender women from female-only wards
Norwegian teenager sentenced to 20 years for part of Iran-backed assassination plot in Britain
UK government threatens complete visa ban on Eritrea over refusal to accept deportees
UK Treasury lobbies UBS to move global headquarters to London amid banking sector tax threats
MI5 Warns of Growing Russian Sabotage and Espionage Threats Across Britain
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Plans Brussels Talks to Renegotiate Post-Brexit Trade Deal
MI5 Warns of Rising Russian and Iranian Sabotage Threats to British Military Facilities
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties as MI5 Reveals Russian Brexit Interference
UK Orders Security Review Following Reported Killing of Former Politician Ann Widdecombe
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham Meets German Chancellor Merz to Strengthen European Security Ties
Nearly 100,000 NHS Patients Treated in Hospital Corridors as England Braces for Winter Pressures
UK Government Rejects US-Russia Diesel Agreement and Reaffirms Sanctions Against Moscow
UK and Germany Agree to Deepen Security and Economic Cooperation Following Berlin Talks
British Prime Minister Burnham Pledges Closer EU Ties During Visit to Germany
UK Announces New Sanctions on 17 Russia-Linked Entities During Foreign Secretary's Ukraine Visit
UK and Germany Finalize Kensington Treaty to Strengthen Defense and Technology Cooperation
Britain Maintains Diplomatic Mission in East Jerusalem Despite Israeli Closure Deadline
English Councils Push Government to Rethink Proposed Funding Cuts
Scottish Homebuilding Falls to Lowest Level in 11 Years
BBC Chief Matt Brittin Defends Restructuring as Staff Challenge Job Cuts
UK Finance Warns High Energy Costs and Bond Yields Are Complicating Fiscal Outlook
UK Adopts All 44 Recommendations on Regulating AI in Healthcare
Chancellor John Healey Prepares Autumn Budget as Borrowing Costs Strain Public Finances
UK Investigators See Strong Indications of Iranian Link After RAF Fairford Security Operation
Laura Trott Pledges Tighter Controls on Political Activism in UK Classrooms
Welsh Ministers Launch Long-Term Review of North Wales and Anglesey Crossings
Welsh Government Orders 18-Month Study of Road Solutions Around Newport
Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin Faces Scrutiny Over £800,000 Second Home Purchase
British Households Grow More Concerned About Fuel and Energy Prices
NHS Leaders Warn of Rising Winter Pressure on Emergency Departments
Kemi Badenoch Proposes £2.3 Billion Employer National Insurance Cut for Young Workers
Middle East Conflict Could Erase UK Fiscal Headroom, Economists Warn
Manchester City Found Guilty of Multiple Premier League Financial Rule Breaches
×