Heathrow Airport warned on Thursday that passenger numbers for the rest of 2025 are likely to be impacted by the Iran war, which began on 28 February. The airport reported 18.9 million passengers in the first quarter, up 3.7% year-on-year, partly due to absorbing demand from other airports. Airspace closures in the Middle East have disrupted travel, with about half a million passengers per day normally using hubs in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi.

The UK government has granted airlines the authority to cancel or merge flights this summer to save jet fuel, with passengers to be notified at least two weeks before departure. The emergency measure, announced on May 3, aims to prevent last-minute disruptions as the war in Iran and closure of the Strait of Hormuz threaten fuel supplies. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she is confident most travelers will have a similar experience to last year.

King Charles III's address to the US Congress last week was a "high stakes" moment that earned 12 standing ovations, a senior royal aide said, as the monarch urged lawmakers to defend Ukraine and support NATO. The state visit also yielded a surprise trade win: President Donald Trump announced the scrapping of US tariffs on Scotch whisky imports, calling it a concession to the visiting royals. A YouGov poll published Saturday found 74% of the UK public thought the King handled the visit well, a sharp reversal from pre-trip skepticism.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged on his personal Substack that the government will set out how it intends to go further and faster on defence in the coming weeks, describing the current moment as one that will "shape our future for generations." He said the UK faces "a war on two fronts, in Ukraine and in the Middle East, a fractured world, more dangerous than at any point in my lifetime." The pledges come amid industry frustration over a delayed Defence Investment Plan, with Lord Robertson accusing the government in April of "corrosive complacency" towards defence spending.

Two people died and a major incident was declared following an explosion at a residence in Frenchay, Bristol. Avon and Somerset Police treated the incident as suspicious but not terrorist-related, given the recent change in UK threat level. Nearby residents were evacuated to a temporary rest centre. Police are not looking for anyone else in connection and inquiries are ongoing.

Two Sudanese women, a 16-year-old girl and a woman in her 20s, died when a small boat carrying 82 people attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the UK suffered engine failure and ran aground near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, France. Seventeen people were rescued at sea, and 65 remained on board until the boat beached. Three survivors are in critical condition with burns, and 14 others sustained moderate injuries. French authorities have launched a judicial investigation. The deaths, the third such tragedy in just over a month, bring the 2025 Channel crossing death toll to at least eight, following previous incidents on April 1 and April 9. The tragedy has prompted renewed criticism of the UK-France border security deal, with over 70 refugee NGOs calling for a public inquiry into UK spending on enforcement.

Varun Chandra, a key business adviser to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, held 16 undisclosed meetings with top US tech executives from Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Oracle, Apple, and Meta between October 2024 and October 2025. The meetings covered regulatory changes, AI investment, and trade negotiations, raising concerns about transparency and lobbying influence on government policy, including AI growth zones and regulatory reform.

A chemical spill, believed to be caustic soda, has entered the Knockando burn in Moray, Scotland, killing a significant number of fish, eels, and birds. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) is investigating the incident, which has affected a 2km stretch of the burn. The Spey Fishery Board warns that the salmon population could take years to recover. The spill occurred during peak fly fishing season and follows a similar paint spill in a nearby tributary last month.