Stories from United Kingdom

Singer Harry Styles and actress Zoe Kravitz are engaged, according to People magazine. The couple reportedly shared the news with a small circle of friends and family. Engagement speculation began after Kravitz was seen wearing a ring while kissing Styles in London last week. The pair has been dating since August.

A House of Commons inquiry in the United Kingdom reported concerns regarding the funding and effort allocated to the AUKUS project. The inquiry stated there is a requirement for increased funding and shipbuilding capacity in the UK to meet joint deadlines with Australia. Australian Defence Minister Richard Miles stated he has no concerns regarding the UK's commitment to AUKUS. Miles said Australia and the UK are on track to meet AUKUS milestones, including the construction of the submarine yard at the Osborne Naval Shipyard. Both countries are expected to operate from the 2040s.

Dorset council has removed popular beach rafts in Weymouth after 87 years of operation. The decision follows claims from health and safety officials regarding potential risks.

BP reported a doubling of its net profit. The announcement was shared during a business news segment on BNR Nieuwsradio. No specific monetary figures were provided in the report.

Senior banking and government officials in London are discussing the potential economic impact of Iran potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz. The British government has previously warned of the economic consequences of an Iranian war. There is a stated possibility of aviation fuel shortages in the coming period. The discussion follows concerns regarding Iranian presence and activity in the region. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and senior banking officials met in London to discuss the economic consequences of Iran potentially closing the Strait of Hormuz. The discussion focused on the impact of Iranian maritime actions on the British economy.

British oil company BP earned 3.2 billion dollars in the first quarter of the year. This figure represents the company's highest quarterly profit since 2023. The earnings exceeded market expectations by 20%. The profit increase was driven by boosted oil trading following the Iran War. Energy giant BP earned 2.4 billion pounds, equivalent to 3.2 billion dollars, during the first three months of the year. BP reported profits of $3.2 billion for the period between January and March. Analysts noted a divergence in sector performance since the conflict began. BBC business correspondent Bean Kink noted that the increase is not necessarily solely due to the war. Business correspondent Bean Kink noted the profit surge was not solely due to oil price increases from the war. UK citizens continue to call for windfall taxes on oil companies amid high fuel costs.

BP profits rose 459 percent between January and March compared to the same period last year. This increase represents a gain of approximately 3.286 billion euros. The growth is a consequence of rising crude oil prices, according to a statement sent to the London Stock Exchange.

Oil giant BP announced profits exceeding £2 billion for the first three months of the year. This figure is more than double the profits reported during the same period 12 months ago. The company attributed the rise largely to surging oil prices caused by the Iran War. Profits increased 459 percent compared to the same period last year, totaling a gain of approximately 3.286 billion euros due to rising crude oil prices. Shares of London-based BP rose today following a surge in profits from energy trading and refining. The increase in share price was driven by spiraling energy prices. This performance comes amid a broader report on European earnings trends. The source noted that trading and refining performance beat expectations. British oil company BP reported an adjusted net profit of $3.2 billion for the first quarter.

The German national table tennis team is competing for silver or bronze medals in a tournament featuring a new format. Head coach Jörg Rosko stated the team aims to secure medals for both the men's and women's squads. The women's team includes 33-year-old Sabine Winter, while the men's team features Dank Tew, Patrick Franziska, Dimitri Ofcharov, and Benedikt Duda. Sports director Richard Brause of the German Table Tennis Federation (DTTB) expressed dissatisfaction with the new tournament mode that devalues world rankings. The German teams failed to secure medals at the previous World Team Championships, exiting in the quarterfinals. The report by Johann Galvitz covers the start of the tournament.

A government bill to expand parliament to accommodate additional women MPs was defeated. This marks the first time a government bill has been defeated in parliament. The opposition rejected the move, citing duplicity in the proposal. The debate centered on the necessity of expanding the legislative body to ensure women's representation. The opposition opposed the move, characterizing it as duplicitous. The proposed expansion was intended to accommodate additional women Members of Parliament. The opposition defeated the measure, which the broadcaster described as a move to prevent ruling party members from losing seats. The House of Lords defeated amendment B1 to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill by a vote of 217 to 145. The rejected amendment required mayors and combined authorities to prioritize brownfield sites in spatial strategies.