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Official cites Ukraine war and China threat and raises concern over turnover of top government ministersBritish defence intelligence officials say the UK is closer to a large-scale conflict than at any recent point, as the Middle East crisis intensifies while Russia pursues an expansionist agenda and China develops advanced weapons.One senior official said the secretive 4,500-strong unit was the busiest it had been in...

‘UK internal market’ to be created to ease unionist fears over de facto border in the Irish SeaNew rules to smooth post-Brexit trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland have been unveiled by the government as part of a deal with the Democratic Unionist party that will restore the Stormont executive and install a Sinn Féin first minister.A command paper titled Safeguarding the Union...

Foreign secretary says move would help to make two-state solution an ‘irreversible’ processMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain will consider recognising a Palestinian state as part of concerted efforts to bring about an “irreversible” peace settlement, the foreign secretary, David Cameron, has said.In what would mark a landmark diplomatic moment, he said the move would help to bring about a two-state solution – currently...

Requirement for importers to give 24 hours’ notice of deliveries described as ‘unfeasible’ by suppliersNew Brexit border rules could cut the shelf life of fresh food from mainland Europe by a fifth and leave some deliveries from the EU unsaleable, major food bodies have warned.The SPS Certification Working group, which represents 30 trade bodies covering £100bn of the UK’s food supply, has said new...

Move by several countries comes after allegations that UNRWA staff took part in attacks on Israel last yearMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe decision by the US, UK and other western nations to freeze ­funding for the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees will significantly worsen the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have warned.Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Finland joined the...

PM rejects calls from MPs for Commons vote over military action as pressure grows to clarify long-term strategy on Red Sea crisisRishi Sunak has warned there could be further bombing of Yemen if Houthi attacks on shipping continue, as he came under mounting pressure from MPs to clarify Britain’s long-term strategy for tackling the deepening crisis.The prime minister told parliament that a second round...

UK, US and others use universal periodic review to speak out over Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong KongThe UK, the US and several other countries criticised China’s human rights record on Tuesday as the country was subjected to rare scrutiny of its policies at the United Nations.The UK called on China to “cease the persecution and arbitrary detention of Uyghurs and Tibetans and allow genuine...

Foreign secretary defends continued campaign in Yemen, while Labour says it was not briefed beforehandMiddle East crisis – live updatesA fresh set of US and UK airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen were intended to “send the clearest possible message that Britain backs its words and our warnings with action”, David Cameron has said.The foreign secretary insisted he was confident that attacks carried out...

UK PM urged to apply pressure on Qatar to help free Liri Albag, Eliya Cohen and Ziv and Gali BermanMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe families of four Israeli hostages have urged Rishi Sunak to apply pressure on Qatar to help free their loved ones.The father of 18-year-old Liri Albag, the older brother of 26-year-old twins Ziv and Gali Berman, and the girlfriend of...

Exclusive: Report shows Russian ships loading at North Korean port, amid accusation that Pyongyang supplies missiles and shellsThe UK has provided satellite photographs of North Korean cargo shipments to Russia to a panel of UN experts as part of an attempt to trigger an official investigation into arms deals in violation of international sanctions.North Korea has been accused of supplying ballistic missiles and hundreds...

London mayor calls for ‘youth mobility agreement’ in one of the most pro-European interventions by a Labour politician since EU exitLondon mayor Sadiq Khan has called for young people to be able to move freely to and from the EU for the first time since Brexit in order to lessen the economic and cultural damage caused by the UK’s decision to leave the European...

Documents reveal humanitarian law investigation was far more intensive than David Cameron suggestedMiddle East crisis – live updatesUK Foreign Office legal advisers were unable to conclude that Israel was in compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) in its bombardment of Gaza, court documents reveal.After reviewing specific potential breaches of IHL cited in a report by Amnesty International, the Foreign Office initially concluded it had...

Grant Shapps says UK has no interest in wider Yemen conflict as Rishi Sunak prepares to address MPsMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe UK has no interest in taking part in any wider conflict in Yemen but is “waiting to see what happens” before deciding whether further military strikes against Houthi forces might be needed, the defence secretary has said.Discussing the US-led strikes on...

US Central Command says missile from Houthi-controlled area of Yemen was launched towards USS Laboon before being shot down by fighter jetsMiddle East crisis – live updatesUS fighter aircraft shot down an anti-ship cruise missile fired from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen at one of its warships in the Red Sea, the US military said on Sunday night.The missile was fired towards the USS...

Legal bodies, academics and human rights groups say treaty risks undermining rule of lawRishi Sunak’s Rwanda treaty is unlikely to address concerns raised by the supreme court about the country not being a safe place to send asylum seekers, a House of Lords inquiry has been told.Ahead of next week’s showdown on the Rwanda legislation, the Law Society, academics and human rights groups said...

PM defends lawfulness of military action against Houthis as MPs call for parliamentary scrutinyMiddle East crisis – live updatesThe prime minister has said the UK acted in “self-defence” with military strikes in Yemen intended to “de-escalate tensions and restore stability to the region”, as he faced calls for greater parliamentary scrutiny.Speaking from Ukraine, Rishi Sunak said that in the face of this aggression “we...

Ministers join video call to consider response to Red Sea attacks on shipsMiddle East crisis – live updatesRishi Sunak’s cabinet was meeting on Thursday evening amid expectations of UK involvement in imminent military strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen.Ministers were scheduled to join a video call at 7.45pm, which was expected to discuss the UK response to recent attacks on ships in the...

Experts believe western allies most likely to target coastal sites in attempt to halt spate of Houthi attacks in Red SeaMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritain and the US are poised to launch strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen, as the leader of the rebel group promises to respond to any assault with fresh attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.Western defence sources...

Rishi Sunak told activist’s sister in 2022 that government was ‘totally committed’ to resolving the case The family of the imprisoned British-Egyptian writer and activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah have said the British government has failed to act to free him, a year after the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, told his sister the government was “totally committed to resolving your brother’s case”.A figurehead in Egypt’s...

Only one in 10 feel leaving the EU has helped their finances, while just 9% say it has benefited the NHS, despite £350m a week pledge according to new pollA clear majority of the British public now believes Brexit has been bad for the UK economy, has driven up prices in shops, and has hampered government attempts to control immigration, according to a poll...