Author: Fatimah Idera

The UK has confirmed it provided military support to a US operation that seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker in the North Atlantic, amid allegations the vessel was involved in sanctions-busting oil shipments. The Ministry of Defence said British forces assisted the operation with air surveillance and a Royal Navy ship as the US Coast Guard boarded the tanker, now known as Marinera. The vessel is accused by Washington of violating US sanctions and previously transporting Venezuelan crude oil. US authorities said the seizure was part of a wider crackdown on so-called ghost fleet tankers used to evade international sanctions. A…

The UK and France have agreed in principle to deploy troops to Ukraine if a peace deal is reached with Russia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said after talks in Paris. Starmer announced that a “declaration of intent” signed with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would pave the way for a legal framework allowing British, French and other partner forces to operate on Ukrainian soil after a ceasefire. The aim, he said, is to help guarantee Ukraine’s security and prevent future Russian aggression. Under the plan, the UK and France would establish military hubs across Ukraine…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Keir Starmer clashed sharply at the first Prime Minister’s Questions of the year, trading accusations over defence policy, Ukraine, Greenland and relations with the United States. Badenoch urged Starmer to urgently hold talks with Nato leaders, including US President Donald Trump, over reports that the US was considering options to acquire Greenland, potentially by military means, as well as Washington’s actions in Venezuela. She argued that the UK must show leadership and clarity at a time of rising global tensions. In response, Starmer said he would “of course” speak to Trump, noting that…

Teachers in Northern Ireland have been offered a 4% pay rise for the 2025/26 financial year, backdated to 1 September 2025. The offer was made by teaching employers, including the Department of Education, and would see most teachers earn between £1,000 and £2,000 more a year before tax. A teacher at the bottom of the pay scale would see their salary rise from £31,650 to £32,916, while those at the top would earn about £50,876, up from £48,919. Teaching unions have welcomed the proposal, describing it as the best achievable under current financial constraints, but each union will now consult…

A new NHS online hospital service set to launch in England next year will initially focus on treating eye conditions, menopause-related issues and prostate problems, with the aim of speeding up access to specialist care and easing pressure on traditional hospital services. The service, which was first announced in September, will be available through the NHS App from 2027 and will allow patients to receive assessments, follow-ups and routine check-ups entirely online. It will be staffed by its own dedicated team of doctors and is expected to handle around 8.5 million appointments in its first three years — significantly more…

The first migrants of the year have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel in freezing conditions, marking the start of small-boat arrivals in 2026. Images released on Monday showed people stepping off a Border Force vessel in Dover after making the dangerous journey across the Channel. The crossing took place amid bitterly cold weather, with the Met Office forecasting sleet in the Dover Strait and temperatures around 1°C, feeling closer to minus 3°C. Home Office data shows that 41,472 migrants reached the UK by small boat in 2025, making it the second-highest annual total on record. The…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing pressure to abolish an outdated law that prevents communities from stopping the spread of betting shops and 24-hour slot-machine venues on Britain’s high streets. In a letter sent to Downing Street, nearly 300 politicians and campaigners called for the removal of the so-called “aim to permit” rule, introduced under Tony Blair’s Labour government in 2005 as part of the liberalisation of gambling laws. The policy requires licensing authorities to favour approval of new gambling premises unless there are strong reasons to refuse. Labour MP Dawn Butler, who coordinated the letter, said the rule…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that the future of Greenland should be decided solely by Greenland and Denmark, following renewed comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States needs the territory for national security reasons. Speaking to the media, Starmer rejected the idea of US annexation, saying Greenland’s status is a matter only for the semi-autonomous territory and the Danish kingdom. He described Denmark as a close European and NATO ally and stressed that no outside country has the right to determine Greenland’s future. President Trump and senior members of his administration have repeatedly floated the idea…

Hundreds of schools have been closed and travel severely disrupted following heavy snowfall across large parts of Northern Scotland. Amber weather warnings remain in place until 10:00 on Monday after several days of freezing conditions. Snow drifts and icy surfaces have made road, rail and air travel impossible in some areas, including Aberdeen, Angus, Aberdeenshire, Moray and the Highlands. The Orkney and Shetland Islands have also been badly affected. The Met Office warned that a further 5–10cm of snow could fall across much of the north east, Highlands and Northern Isles, with some mainland areas potentially receiving as much as…

New legal powers allowing authorities to seize mobile phones from illegal migrants without making an arrest have come into force, as the government steps up efforts to tackle people-smuggling networks. The Home Office said the measures are designed to help gather intelligence on gangs organising small-boat crossings to the UK. Phone seizures will begin on Monday at the Manston migrant processing centre in Kent, where specialist technology has been installed to extract data from devices. Under the new rules, officers can require migrants to remove outer clothing to search for phones and may also check mouths for hidden SIM cards.…