Politics

A Cabinet minister said the UK and Nato allies are discussing steps to strengthen Arctic security; reporting has linked those talks to planning around Greenland after remarks by US President Donald Trump.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested a New York City Council employee during an immigration check, and city officials say they have filed a petition seeking his release while disputing claims about his work authorization.

More than 3,000 jobs at the Leonardo helicopter site in Yeovil are reported to be at risk while a government contract remains unsigned; the government has said it will announce the outcome "as soon as possible" and Leonardo is reported to be the only bidder.

A rainstorm in Gaza flooded hundreds of tents and collapsed homes, and local health officials said at least six people were killed.

Human rights groups report that 26-year-old Erfan Soltani was arrested after recent protests and is scheduled for execution on Wednesday; they say he was denied access to a lawyer and granted only a brief family visit.

Teaching unions in Northern Ireland have accepted a 4% pay rise matching England, and the Department of Education says the increase will add about £38m in 2025/26 and about £65m a year thereafter, contributing to a projected overspend of more than £200m.

Lord Peter Mandelson told the BBC he will not apologise for remaining in contact with Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein's 2008 conviction, saying he did not know about Epstein's sexual crimes and that he regrets a system that did not protect victims.

The Department of Homeland Security posted a video showing Renee Good parked sideways near an ICE enforcement operation and described the footage as evidence she impeded agents. Federal investigators with the FBI are leading the probe while Minnesota state and local agencies say they have not been given full access to evidence.

Two mothers say they found it easy to obtain drugs online after losing their sons, and the government has launched an online campaign aimed at 16–24-year-olds amid a reported rise in drug-related harms.

President Donald Trump will travel to Michigan on Tuesday to tour a Ford factory in Dearborn and address the Detroit Economic Club as part of a trip to promote U.S. manufacturing; Michigan Democrats criticized the visit.

A bipartisan U.S. delegation will visit Copenhagen this week while President Trump has renewed statements about acquiring Greenland, and lawmakers said they expect the Senate would eventually consider legislation to limit any attempt to seize the territory.

Renee Good's extended family asked for justice and urged people to respond with empathy while paying tribute to her and seeking privacy and protection for her children; reporting says the FBI is leading an investigation.

Iran restored internet access after a four-day blackout, and officials said the government had reestablished control following a crackdown with hundreds of confirmed deaths.

The Scottish government will publish its draft 2026–27 Budget, with Finance Secretary Shona Robison saying difficult choices were needed to balance tax and spending; the bill faces three parliamentary stages and a final vote expected in late February.

The Home Office reports 12,322 arrests for illegal working between July 2024 and December 2025, an 83% increase on the previous 18 months; 1,725 of those arrested have been deported so far.

Keir Starmer told Labour MPs that being present at international trade and defence talks supports the UK economy and could help address the cost-of-living situation; he has made more than 40 overseas trips since taking office and faces internal pressure to spend more time on domestic issues.

A federal judge cleared Ørsted to resume work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project in Rhode Island after rejecting the Interior Department's December pause on five offshore wind leases.

Nigel Farage spoke at a demonstration outside the Iranian embassy, praising protesters as 'freedom fighters'. The appearance has added to debate in the UK over whether to proscribe the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had a roughly 15-minute call with U.S. President Donald Trump in which she rejected U.S. military intervention against drug cartels and said the two countries will continue working together on security.

Syrian security forces deployed into the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood of Aleppo after days of clashes with Kurdish fighters; the fighting killed at least 22 people and displaced more than 140,000.

Leaders of the 12 councils due to hold elections in May say they will not apply to postpone them after the Local Government Minister offered delay options; the polls remain scheduled for 7 May.

Texas implemented a multi-occupancy bathroom ban in December, and a music teacher in north Texas resigned before the winter break, saying the law and related anti-trans measures made it unsafe to continue.

A new Department for Transport pothole map gave Suffolk a red rating for not meeting standards in one measured area, and Suffolk County Council has criticised the data; the DfT said claims it mishandled or ignored data are "categorically untrue".

Barham Salih, a former Iraqi president and ex-refugee, has taken office as head of the UN refugee agency and visited Kakuma camp in Kenya; he said the agency faces reduced funding and rising needs.

The Trade Secretary said ministers will consider changing UK terror law to allow proscribing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after an independent review found current law would not permit it.

Liz Kendall is expected to make a statement to MPs today about reports that X's Grok AI produced sexualised deepfake images; Ofcom has requested information from X and is expediting an inquiry under the Online Safety Act.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will pursue closer security cooperation with India to reduce India's reliance on Russia; the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding and additional agreements on critical minerals, health and an AI innovation centre.

Activists report at least 538 people killed in Iran and more than 10,600 detained, and thousands demonstrated in London calling for the IRGC to be proscribed while the UK Home Secretary reviews the matter.

A man identified as cattle farmer Maxwell Hobson, in his early 80s, was found deceased near his vehicle following bushfires in central Victoria; officials said conditions eased on Monday and some blazes were being contained.

Protests in Iran neared the two-week mark, and authorities have cut internet and international phone access, limiting outside reporting.