The UK joined key European partners in rejecting Washington’s move to ease an oil embargo on a sanctioned state, warning it undermines pressure and security. The White House says the step is intended to stabilise global fuel prices.
Ministers face calls to approve the UK’s largest oil field and reconsider the pause on new North Sea licences, with supporters arguing it would bolster energy security and curb bills amid global market instability. Opponents warn of climate and investment risks.
A newly surfaced 1999 photo shows a senior royal and a former Cabinet minister socialising with a disgraced US financier at Martha’s Vineyard. The image has revived scrutiny of their past links; both figures deny wrongdoing and neither faces charges.
Newly released files include a photo said to show a former prince and a Labour peer socialising with a convicted offender, intensifying scrutiny of their past links. The revelation has prompted calls for clarity about the nature and extent of those associations.
The White House has sent a Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Gulf to protect a vital shipping strait after incidents involving civilian vessels. The force could secure lanes and nearby islands with allied support. Brent crude passed $100 as markets priced in possible disruption.
The chancellor pledged targeted support to shield poorer households from rising energy bills as global tensions lift wholesale prices. The Treasury is modelling options, with temporary help likely if the price cap jumps in June, prioritising low‑income homes.
The US and Israel have intensified military operations targeting Iranian sites around Tehran, seeking a breakthrough after weeks of confrontation. The UK coordinates with allies on diplomacy and calls for restraint.
Downing Street confirmed the PM did not personally question a Labour peer about past links to an individual convicted of abuse before appointing him ambassador to the US, saying no interview was required. Critics call it a dereliction of duty; No 10 defends the process.
Wall Street is concerned as crude tops $100 amid a deepening supply squeeze. Investors fear persistent energy costs will lift inflation, pressure households and complicate central bank plans, heightening recession risk. Energy shares rise while broader indices fall.
UK officials say a hostile state orchestrated an Iranian drone swarm incident at a base in Iraq housing British troops. The PM is briefed as Britain and allies weigh steps to deter further incidents, strengthen defences and seek accountability, reaffirming support for personnel on the ground.
British forces in Iraq were targeted by Iranian drones, triggering heightened security and coordination with allies. Ministers condemned the incident and pledged stronger protection for personnel and shipping, warning regional tensions could intensify.
Kemi Badenoch alleges the PM misled MPs over Peter Mandelson’s appointment as US ambassador, claiming documents were withheld from recent files. She demands a sleaze inquiry and urges him to quit. The PM has apologised again.
Britain says Iranian drones used in an incident at a base in Erbil were guided by an external power. No UK casualties were reported. The government vows firm backing for allies and deterrence, as Iran’s new Ayatollah warns up to 15 neighbouring countries.
Jack Osbourne and his wife Aree have welcomed a daughter, naming her Ozzy in tribute to her late grandad, the rock icon. The choice serves as a personal homage to family legacy.
Kemi Badenoch alleges gaps in files on Lord Mandelson’s proposed role and urges the PM to publish all notes and correspondence, saying the omissions suggest a cover‑up. She calls for transparency before any appointment proceeds.
Britain is preparing naval protection for commercial tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, working with allies amid threats to block key shipping lanes. Royal Marines could deploy at short notice from the Bahrain base. Officials warn disruption could hit global oil supply and markets.
The defence secretary says a foreign state is covertly guiding Iran’s tactics, with drone crews applying techniques refined elsewhere. He urges tougher sanctions, stronger air defences and tighter UK‑allied coordination to deter further threats.
Crude above $100 and disruptions near Hormuz are handing about $150m a day in extra revenue to a sanctioned petrostate via surging sales to India and China. The windfall tightens its grip on energy markets and challenges UK and allied policy, spurring calls for tougher enforcement and coordination.
UK troops in Iraq were targeted, prompting the defence secretary to consider deploying warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz and protect oil shipping. Tehran says it will maintain a blockade, squeezing supply and pushing energy costs higher in Britain.
After a fall caused by a substandard ladder bought online, a tradesman who had to quit work is leading a drive to stop dangerous fakes. He urges tighter import checks, action on bogus safety marks and stronger duties on marketplaces to remove risky goods and protect workers.