World News

King Charles Falsely Declared Dead After Radio Mistake

UK Monarchy

King Charles Falsely Declared Dead After Radio Mistake

A community radio station breached broadcasting rules after it mistakenly announced the death of King Charles III during a May broadcast, the UK regulator Ofcom said on Monday.

Radio Caroline, a station that is best known today for rock music after its earlier pirate broadcasts, said it had apologised in May after messages were aired falsely stating that the monarch had died.
In one of the messages, the station said it had “suspended our normal programmes until further notice as a mark of respect following the passing of His Majesty King Charles III”. The national anthem was then played, followed by about 16 minutes of silence before the station returned to its regular schedule.
Ofcom cites delays in correcting the error
The presenter apologised around 30 minutes after the messages were first broadcast, Ofcom said.
The regulator received two complaints about the incident and concluded the “very significant inaccuracy”, as well as the “considerable length of time” taken to acknowledge and correct the mistake, meant Radio Caroline breached two rules.
One rule requires news and information to be accurate and presented with due impartiality. A second rule says significant mistakes must be acknowledged and corrected on air promptly.
How the files were triggered during remote streaming
In a statement to Ofcom, Radio Caroline said the error happened when a member of staff accessed pre-recorded audio files prepared for the monarch’s death while carrying out maintenance on the studio computer.
The station said the programme was being streamed remotely at the time. It added that the member of staff played the files “out of curiosity”, and that this action stopped the stream from the presenter’s remote location and instead broadcast the pre-recorded material over the station’s output.
The member of staff then reportedly “panicked and left the premises” once they realised what had occurred, according to Ofcom’s account of the station’s explanation.
Radio Caroline told the regulator that the remote presenter would not know the station had gone “off air” unless they were monitoring their output using an internet monitor. It said the presenter believed they were still live and was not actively checking their phone, meaning they did not immediately respond to calls from people at the station who had noticed the problem.
Station reprimanded staff and removed recordings
Radio Caroline said the person who played the pre-recorded files had been “reprimanded” and had “apologised” over the incident. The station also told Ofcom that the pre-recorded files had since been removed from the studio computer.

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11 August 2026

• 14 comments
• 433 views

webfact

August 11Aug 11

Beijing braces for extreme rainfall and flood risk

China

Beijing braces for extreme rainfall and flood risk

Beijing is preparing for an intense spell of rain that could deliver more than one-third of the Chinese capital's average annual rainfall within 24 hours, raising the risk of flooding across densely populated districts.
More than 150mm forecast in 24 hours
The city's meteorological service said most areas would experience heavy downpours from Tuesday evening through Thursday. Rainfall could exceed 100mm within six hours and reach more than 150mm over 24 hours.
Some districts could receive more than 200mm in a single day, including Tongzhou, Daxing, Fangshan, Mentougou, Huairou and Fengtai. Beijing's average annual rainfall is about 528mm, with most normally falling between June and September.
Highest flood alert issued in Mentougou
Authorities in the mountainous western district of Mentougou issued the highest level of flood emergency alert on Tuesday. Residents were advised to stay indoors unless necessary and to avoid mountainous areas and rivers.
The rainfall threat developed as moisture associated with Typhoon Dolphin to the south converged with cooler air over northern China. The combination is expected to produce concentrated downpours capable of overwhelming drainage and rapidly raising water levels.
What it means for foreigners in Beijing
Foreign residents and visitors should monitor official weather and transport notices, avoid rivers, mountain routes and low-lying areas, and allow extra time for disrupted journeys. Do not attempt to walk or drive through floodwater. Travellers with flights or rail connections should check directly with their operator before leaving, while anyone in an affected district should follow local emergency instructions and remain indoors when advised.

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11 August 2026

• 0 comments
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Uncle Claude

August 11Aug 11

Trump Demands Iran Pay War Reparations

Iranian Conflict

Trump Demands Iran Pay War Reparations

US President Donald Trump said he would demand that Iran pay compensation for deaths and injuries caused over recent decades, in a move he portrayed as part of efforts to end wider conflicts and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement, made in a post on Truth Social, marks the latest sign of friction around talks aimed at winding down the war in the region and restarting shipping through one of the world’s most important oil routes.
Reparations demand on Truth Social
Trump said he was issuing a demand for “war reparations” after Iranian negotiators raised similar claims for damage linked to fighting that has lasted about five months and has killed thousands, he said.
He claimed Iran’s attacks include “roadside bombs” and other conflicts associated with figures such as General Qassem Soleimani, and he said the request covers the families of people killed in combat, including those connected to the USS Cole.
Trump also said compensation should be paid to families of “hundreds of thousands” of protesters he said Iran has killed over the past 50 years, adding that he believed 52,000 people had been killed in the past five months.
Talks to reopen the Strait of Hormuz stall
The reparations demand is likely to be difficult for Iran’s leadership to accept, coming as Trump and other senior US negotiators continue to work, without success so far, on an arrangement they have repeatedly described as close to completion.
The aim is to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil trade flowed before the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran in late February.
Despite US officials saying a deal was imminent on multiple occasions, no agreement has materialised, and Trump’s comments add further pressure to negotiations that are already being closely watched by regional governments and oil markets.
Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza roadmap
The remarks also followed fresh setbacks in Trump’s push to end multiple Middle East conflicts before the November midterm elections, when high oil prices and inflation could affect Republican support.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he rejected Trump’s “Board of Peace” 15-point plan for ending Israel’s war in Gaza. Netanyahu said Hamas must fully disarm before Israel would consider withdrawing from Gaza, opposing the phased withdrawal approach set out in the proposal.
He presented his position as a refusal to accept US pressure on Israel’s war aims, saying: “Unlike all those who lecture us, we do what needs to be done for Israel’s security, and we can and know how to stand our ground, even against our best friends when necessary.”
Trump had not responded to Netanyahu’s statement by the time of reporting, but earlier on Monday, when asked a question in the Oval Office, he said his relationship with Netanyahu was “very good”.
Trump expands scope of demands
Trump said the reparations demands would also extend beyond the immediate conflict, broadening the targets after his first post.
About an hour later, he wrote that, for the purposes of the Iran negotiations, Iran should be held responsible for damage and deaths affecting people in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Gaza.

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11 August 2026

• 14 comments
• 193 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

Drought Hits 71% of England After Record-Dry July

UK

Drought Hits 71% of England After Record-Dry July

More than two-thirds of England has been placed under drought conditions after the country recorded its driest July since records began in 1836, drought officials said.

The National Drought Group declared that 71.3% of England is now in drought following a meeting on Monday. Areas that moved into drought status include the East Midlands, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire, Kent and East Sussex, and the Solent and the South Downs.
That brings the total to more than half of England already classified as being in drought, along with the whole of Wales.
Drought coverage widens
The National Drought Group, which includes regulators, government representatives, water companies and agricultural bodies, said 45 million people in England are now living in drought-affected areas. More than 27 million of those people face restrictions on how water can be used.
Drought conditions are expected to worsen until “significant and sustained rainfall”, the group said, with the chair Tony Grayling warning that the hot and dry spell is taking a heavy toll on farming and the environment.
Grayling said conditions are likely to intensify over the week ahead as the fifth heatwave of the year develops further, although there are signs that rain could reach the UK on Sunday.


Brockwell Park in London. Picture courtesy of BBC

The group also said most of England is experiencing a flash drought, which it described as developing rapidly due to very low rainfall combined with higher temperatures.
Yorkshire and the north-east of England have been moved to a “prolonged dry weather” stage, which comes before drought. Nowhere in England is in a “normal” category.
Heat alerts as reserves drop
Hot weather is continuing, with the UK Health Security Agency issuing amber heat health alerts for all of England except the North East from Tuesday at 09:00 BST until Friday at 21:00 BST.
An amber alert indicates significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the risk posed by high temperatures.
The Environment Agency said low water levels are already causing potential navigation problems for boats on the Thames, Lark and Ouse. Reservoir levels have continued to fall, with almost all sites below normal and five described as “exceptionally low”.
Water shortage risks are also rising for wildlife and ecosystems. Mark Owen, head of fisheries at the Angling Trust, said warmer conditions are putting fish under “severe stress” because the water holds less dissolved oxygen.
Meanwhile, the continued dry weather is increasing the risk of wildfires. Dozens of firefighters were dealing with a blaze in the New Forest on Monday, which had earlier been estimated at 140 football pitches, or 247 acres.
Farming hit as rivers run low
England and Wales recorded their driest July on record last month, with southern England seeing its driest July ever. South-east England received just 1% of the expected average rainfall for July, and some parts of Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and West Sussex have not had a rain day for 59 days.
The National Drought Group said pressure is building across England’s water resources. The National Farmers Union reported reduced output after very early harvests, with its president Tom Bradshaw warning that continued dry conditions could lead to food shortages.
He said yields of wheat and oats were “very, very poor” and that some livestock farmers have been forced to use winter feed rations because grass has not grown.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said the government is working to make it easier for farmers to build additional on-site irrigation reservoirs that can capture and store water.
Figures show only 14% of England’s rivers are at normal levels, while 22% are exceptionally low, including the River Avon in south-west England and the River Ely Ouse in eastern England.
Scotland monitors scarcity; climate drivers grow
Scotland and Northern Ireland have not been experiencing drought conditions and are expected to see spells of heavy rain. Scotland does not declare drought, but monitors “water scarcity” instead, and its environment agency reported that eastern areas remain in the most extreme categories of moderate or significant scarcity.
The Climate Change Committee’s chief executive Emma Pinchbeck said the UK was “not prepared at all” for prolonged dry weather, citing impacts already seen on farming and concerns about readiness across infrastructure and the economy up to 2050.
The Met Office said climate change does not cause every heatwave or drought, but it makes extreme heat more likely by raising average temperatures, and it increases evaporation when rain fails, drying soils faster. This can contribute to a feedback effect where drier ground cools less and allows temperatures to climb higher.
The Met Office and other agencies said the UK is seeing the type of hotter, drier summers climate scientists have long predicted, with three droughts recorded in the past five years: 2022, 2025 and 2026.
This year there have been 34 days with temperatures of 30C or above somewhere in England, including 13 consecutive days in July. Human-caused climate change is said to be increasing the likelihood and intensity of heat extremes, while El Niño, a natural climate pattern driven by unusually warm Pacific Ocean waters, is expected to further influence global temperatures. The World Meteorological Organisation said a strong El Niño event is developing and is expected to dominate global climate patterns in coming months.


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11 August 2026

• 1 comment
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webfact

August 10Aug 10

Trump Administration Revokes 175,000 Visas

Immigration

Trump Administration Revokes 175,000 Visas

The Trump administration said on Monday it has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals, citing alleged breaches of visa terms linked to criminal activity and calls for violence against Americans, among other allegations.

The US State Department said most cancellations followed “law enforcement encounters”. Some immigration lawyers expressed concern that the administration’s approach could extend to minor encounters or to charges that have not been tested through the court system.
Visa cancellations accelerate
The announcement marked an increase compared with the previous year. The State Department said revocations in 2026 averaged more than 10,000 cancellations per month, versus more than 8,000 per month across 2025. It also said the administration had revoked more than 100,000 visas during the previous year, after announcing the figure in January.
The administration described the removals as part of what it said is ongoing vetting. It said the State Department’s work is intended to ensure visa holders comply with the conditions attached to their visas and do not endanger Americans.
Grounds cited for revocations
In a statement, the State Department said the majority of visas were revoked because of law enforcement encounters involving a range of criminal activity. It listed assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug offences as leading causes.
It also said other grounds included reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement, alongside other alleged crimes.
The department added that it will “continue to identify, investigate, and revoke the visas” of foreign nationals it says threaten public safety, citing leadership by President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio.
Named cases and “birth tourism” claims
Among examples described by the State Department were multiple foreign nationals who, it said, celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist killed in September 2025. The department said visas were revoked for people who posted messages including “when fascists die, democrats don’t complain,” and another who said Kirk “died too late”.
Other high-profile cases included Tou Lue Vang, a 42-year-old father of six who was deported to Laos last month by the Department of Homeland Security. The State Department said Vang had been pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz a few weeks earlier following a 2005 conviction for sexually abusing a child. It said Vang’s removal was carried out on “foreign policy grounds”.
The department also cited other deportations and visa revocation determinations on “foreign policy grounds”, including foreign nationals from Cuba described as having links to the communist regime, Iranians in the US said to have ties to the Iranian regime, and a Kuwaiti national who it said “wished for violence against” the president and the US, and called Americans his “enemy”.
Additional cases listed by the State Department involved people it said were arrested or charged with sexual assault or sexual abuse, including allegations involving minors, as well as kidnapping and human trafficking. It also referenced driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and alleged fraud.
Separately, the State Department said a US embassy in North Africa revoked more than 100 visas for “birth tourist” parents. It said the individuals travelled primarily to give birth so their children would obtain US citizenship.
“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right. The Department remains committed to using every tool available to protect our communities from those who abuse it,” the State Department said.

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11 August 2026

• USA

• 24 comments
• 849 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

Trump Orders Fewer Childhood Vaccines, Splits MMR

Health Care

Trump Orders Fewer Childhood Vaccines, Splits MMR

President Donald Trump has signed an order that calls for fewer childhood vaccines and recommends changing how the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine is delivered, including splitting MMR doses.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said that children received only a “small fraction” of the vaccines required today and argued that earlier generations were “much healthier”. He also claimed that autism rates now seen were not present in past decades, repeating a line his administration has promoted for years.
The Trump administration has long backed a link between MMR vaccines and autism that has been widely discredited. However, multiple studies have found no association between the two.
Federal authority limited to state requirements
The federal government does not have the power to put the new recommendations into effect. Requirements for vaccinations needed for school attendance are set by individual states.
Even so, Trump said the administration is “recognising gold standard childhood vaccine recommendations” covering only 11 core vaccinations aimed at protecting against the most serious and dangerous diseases.
What the order recommends
Under the order, the immunisations recommended for all children include vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella, as well as diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. It also covers polio and Haemophilus influenzae type B, alongside pneumococcal disease, human papillomavirus and varicella, or chickenpox.
The order also includes a recommendation to split the MMR shots, rather than giving them as a combined dose, according to the description of the order.
Trump says children would receive fewer jabs
Trump said the approach would reduce the number of vaccinations. He added that the change would involve receiving vaccines across a series of doctor visits.
“We’re reducing them,” he said, describing the plan as not only involving fewer vaccines, but also spreading them out into multiple appointments.



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11 August 2026

• USA

• 99 comments
• 270 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

7.4 Earthquake in Western Colombia Kills More Than 100

Natural Disaster

7.4 Earthquake in Western Colombia Kills More Than 100

More than 100 people have died after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, officials said, with victims trapped in damaged buildings and further damage reported across several cities.

Colombia’s newly installed president, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared a national disaster as the scale of destruction became clearer, according to officials and statements released by the government.
Casualties and scale of damage
Colombia’s president said at least 111 people were killed and 87 others were injured.
He also reported that at least 61 buildings had collapsed and that over 1,600 homes had been damaged or destroyed. The president added that health centres, community facilities and roads had also been affected in the hardest-hit areas.
Some of the worst impacts were reported in Pereira and Cali, while further deaths were recorded in multiple departments, officials said.
Trapped people and local destruction
In Cali, the mayor said at least 20 buildings collapsed and people were trapped inside. Officials said a rescue effort was under way in one building where at least 15 people were believed to be trapped.
In Quibdo, the governor of Chuco said there were injuries and “severe damage” to buildings in the department’s capital.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located 5 kilometres east of San José del Palmar, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Disruptions and reports from across the country
Seven airports suspended services in Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdo, Buenaventura and Cartago, officials said. Authorities said there had been no reports of collapsed buildings in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital.
Colombia’s Geological Survey said the quake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade. It was felt widely throughout Colombia and in neighbouring countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, the agency said.
Response led from Bogotá
In a video posted on social media, President de la Espriella said he was travelling to Bogotá to focus on addressing the emergency. He said he had also convened a unified command post to coordinate the response to the affected areas, including the Coffee-Growers’ Axis.
The Trump administration said it was monitoring the situation and was prepared to support Colombia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the administration was “closely monitoring” the earthquake and was “ready” to help.


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11 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 159 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

Trump Admits Contractor Error, Repeats Vandalism Claims

USA

Trump Admits Contractor Error, Repeats Vandalism Claims

For the first time, President Donald Trump said contractor error contributed to the peeling of the paint liner on Washington’s Reflecting Pool, while continuing to raise allegations of vandalism.

In a social media post on Sunday night, Trump acknowledged that the work had been completed on an accelerated timetable ahead of a July 4 opening. He said the “rushing” of the job involved some contractor mistakes, but described the extent as limited compared with the size of the pool.
The Reflecting Pool has been closed to the public since problems emerged after more than $14 million was spent to change the colour of the liner. The coating began to peel soon after the upgrade, prompting investigations and renewed claims that the damage was caused by people tampering with the surface.
Contractor error acknowledged
Trump said the contractor pushed to finish work before July 4 and that this contributed to the failure of part of the coating. He added that vandalism claims continued alongside the new acknowledgement of workmanship issues.
His comments came after earlier reporting that the government had blamed vandalism, an approach that led to arrests connected to the incident.
Vandalism claims and dismissed charges
Trump previously attributed the damage to vandalism. Four people were arrested, including David “Davey” Hearn, a three-time Olympic athlete who was the only person charged with a felony.
U.S. prosecutors had said that a National Park Service employee witnessed Hearn ripping and tugging at the paint coating, according to the account underpinning the case. However, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, dismissed the charges against Hearn last week.


video screenshot

Pirro’s office said the damage resulted from shoddy workmanship rather than deliberate vandalism. Her team argued that the Department of the Interior had not informed prosecutors about issues with the installation before the case proceeded.
At the time of Hearn’s indictment, Pirro said in court that he was a vandal, describing the damage as something Hearn had caused. Her office later sought dismissal through a motion stating the alleged harm was “a result of flawed installation by the contractor”, rather than conduct by Hearn and others.
Hearn has maintained his innocence since his arrest. His lawyer, Norman Eisen, said Hearn was riding his bicycle in June when he touched a section of coating that was already detached. Eisen also said Hearn had been facing public claims about a possible prison sentence, and that he was continuing to fight the case.
Fencing extended around the pool
Separately, the National Park Service said fencing around the Reflecting Pool will remain in place for longer than expected. The barrier was due to be removed on Monday, but the agency said work on the site continues.
The National Park Service set a new target date for taking the fencing down: Sept. 10. It said the sidewalks around the pool would remain closed while the work continues, limiting access for visitors who want to walk by the Washington landmark.

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10 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 132 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

Daniel Kinahan Appears in Irish Court After Dubai Extradition

Crime

Daniel Kinahan Appears in Irish Court After Dubai Extradition

Suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan spent his first night in custody in Ireland after being extradited from Dubai, and appeared before Dublin’s Special Criminal Court on Sunday.
The 49-year-old attended a 13-minute, non-jury hearing at the Criminal Courts of Justice for the purpose of being charged and was remanded in custody until 5 October.
He faces a charge of directing the activities of a criminal organisation between 18 October 2015 and 6 April 2017.
Court hearing and bail request
Kinahan appeared before judges Patrick McGrath, Sarah Berkeley and Fiona Lydon, and stood as the three judges took their places. He was not legally represented, telling the court he did not have time to arrange it.
When the court explained that he could apply for bail through the High Court, Kinahan said: “I think we all know I won’t be getting bail, but thank you for your time.”
Det Sgt Colm Davison told the court that he had arrested Kinahan earlier that evening. Judge McGrath asked Kinahan whether he wanted to appear at the next sitting in person or via video link. Kinahan asked if he had to “decide now”, and was told he could make a decision later and notify the prison governor.
Earlier in the hearing, Judge McGrath suggested Kinahan could be charged that day, with legal representation arranged later, to which Kinahan replied: “If I have time, yes.”
Arrival and security operation
Kinahan was flown into Dublin on an Irish government jet, landing after 18:00 local time. He was arrested and charged on arrival at Baldonnell Casement Aerodrome.
After being taken into custody, he was transported directly under heavy police guard to the courts. The courtroom was full, with journalists, a number of solicitors from the Director of Public Prosecutions and members of the public, as well as court clerks.
Ahead of the extradition, the Irish Prison Service bought a van described as both bulletproof and bombproof, intended for escorting high-risk prisoners.
Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said the arrest demonstrated the force’s determination to “target transnational organised crime groups” with international policing partners, including the Dubai police. He said it also reflected the value of relationships with UAE authorities, the Irish ministry of justice at judicial level, and “on a police-to-police basis”.
Kinahan’s background
Kinahan was arrested in the United Arab Emirates in April. He challenged the extradition order in the months that followed, but his attempts were unsuccessful.
The National Crime Agency has previously said the Kinahan cartel was responsible for importing tonnes of drugs and firearms worldwide and has been linked to more than a dozen gangland murders. The US Treasury Department has described the cartel as one of the most dangerous in the world.
The US government imposed sanctions on Kinahan in April 2022, identifying him and other members of his family as leaders of the Kinahan organised crime cartel. Irish and US accounts have also linked Kinahan to a long-running gangland feud in Ireland, in which 18 lives were claimed.
On 5 February 2016, an attempt was made on Kinahan’s life in the Regency Hotel shooting. David Byrne was shot dead and two other men were shot and injured. The incident formed part of what later became known as the Hutch-Kinahan feud.
Kinahan also had ties to sport through MTK Global, a boxing management company that represented more than 100 boxers, including Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton. The company has since ceased operating.
Extradition treaty and wider cases
The UAE and Ireland have an extradition treaty. On Sunday, justice ministers from both jurisdictions issued a joint statement welcoming Kinahan’s extradition, saying the Irish national is accused of directing an organised crime organisation.
Irish Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan called the transfer a “landmark of judicial cooperation between the two countries” and thanked the UAE judicial authorities for their “professionalism, efficiency, and diligence”. Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al Nuaimi, the UAE counterpart, said it highlighted “the steadfast commitment we have to supporting global efforts to combat transnational organised crime”.
The extradition agreement has previously been used to return Sean McGovern, described as a senior lieutenant in the Kinahan group. McGovern was sentenced to 24 years in prison in June for directing the activities of a criminal organisation.
Former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has estimated the group made more than €1bn globally. The US Treasury has compared it with criminal organisations such as Italy’s Camorra, Mexico’s Los Zetas and Japan’s Yakuza. A reward of up to $5m has been offered in the US for information on Daniel Kinahan, his father Christopher Snr and his brother Christopher Jnr.
In 2022, Thomas Kavanagh, whom the NCA said ran the group’s criminal operations in the UK, was jailed for 21 years, along with Gary Vickery (20 years) and Daniel Canning (19 and a half years). The NCA said evidence showed they were responsible for cocaine imports estimated to be up to £23.4m and cannabis imports worth about £6.4m.
Kinahan’s lawyer previously told BBC Panorama that Kinahan has no criminal record or convictions, and that allegations he is a crime boss are false and have no evidential basis.


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10 August 2026

• 2 comments
• 151 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

Zuckerberg Yacht Questioned Over Alaska Rescue Call

Report

Zuckerberg Yacht Questioned Over Alaska Rescue Call

Mark Zuckerberg has faced questions about why his 387ft superyacht, reportedly worth about $300m, did not respond to a call for help from another boat in south-east Alaska.

The incident, reported last week, involved a 21ft skiff that ran out of fuel between Petersburg and Juneau. According to the Alaska Beacon, the crew of a nearby cruise ship that was further away than Zuckerberg’s yacht went to the rescue after receiving the request.
Meta Platforms chief executive officer Zuckerberg, who also leads Facebook and Instagram, was not on board his yacht at the time, his representative said.
Skiff rescue after fuel ran out
A passenger on the UnCruise Adventures ship Wilderness Legacy said the vessel rescued a stranded boat during the night. The passenger posted the account on Bluesky, saying the cruise ship responded after communications were raised with the yacht that was closer.
The passenger wrote that the rescue took place after the Coast Guard radioed Zuckerberg’s yacht and that the yacht “repeatedly refused to respond”. They also said there was “near unanimous booing” when the ship’s captain discussed the situation with other passengers.
The post described the yacht as having been in the area of Auke Bay for an extended period, though the comments were part of wider reactions to the story.


Picture courtesy of The Guardian
Questions over reported lack of help
Zuckerberg’s yacht has come under scrutiny following the report that it did not assist the stranded skiff when nearby vessels called for support.
The account alleges the yacht was approached for help multiple times. It also suggests the rescue operation did not involve the yacht, despite being closer to the incident than the cruise ship that responded.
Zuckerberg spokesperson: crew on different radio channel
Brian Baker, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan, told Forbes that Zuckerberg was not on board the yacht, named Launchpad, at the time.
Baker said the crew had been using a different radio channel and only reviewed the broadcast after the situation had progressed. He added that “the assist was already under way” by the time they reviewed the communication.
The spokesperson’s account did not dispute the underlying rescue, but it did challenge the claim that the yacht’s crew declined to help in the moment.
Wider criticism and online reaction
Even without Zuckerberg being present on his yacht, the report is unlikely to remove criticism that has previously been directed at him and his companies, the original article said.
Zuckerberg has faced longstanding criticism over the societal impact of social media platforms operated by Meta. He has also been the subject of renewed attention linked to his relationship with Donald Trump, according to reporting cited in the source, and to criticism of his lifestyle.
Online responses to the Alaska rescue story included strong condemnation from some users. One Reddit comment, posted in response to the rescue report, expressed anger at Zuckerberg and described the yacht as an “eyesore” in Auke Bay.
The episode has reignited questions about how responsibility is handled during emergencies at sea, though details of the radio communications remain a point of contention between the reports and the spokesperson’s explanation.

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10 August 2026

• 11 comments
• 553 views

webfact

August 10Aug 10

British Man Shot Dead in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir

Report

British Man Shot Dead in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir

A British man has been shot dead in Pakistan-administered Kashmir during clashes between security forces and protesters, according to his family and UK officials.

Mohammad Akhtar, 50, from Peterborough, died on 9 June in the city of Kotli, his relatives said, as demonstrations demanding economic and electoral reforms took place in the disputed Himalayan territory also claimed by India.
The incident highlights how Britons with family links to the region have been affected by unrest that has killed dozens of people in recent months and has posed major challenges for Pakistani authorities.
Death after firing at protest area
Akhtar was staying in Kotli near the area where fighting broke out, when his family said Pakistani security forces opened fire on a gathering of protesters.
A cousin, Mohammad Saad, said Akhtar was not taking part in the demonstrations but was struck by a stray bullet. Saad said there was a wound on the side of his chest.
He added that Akhtar’s children decided not to pursue the matter with UK authorities. Saad said they were unable to register a police complaint in Kashmir and feared the family could be targeted if the case became public.
UK concern and updated travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said it was “deeply concerned” about the situation in parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
It said ministers and the UK high commissioner in Islamabad have been in contact with their counterparts and that UK travel advice was updated on 7 August, continuing to advise against all but essential travel to affected areas.
It is also understood that Hamish Falconer, when a Foreign Office minister, raised the issue in talks during a 16-17 June visit to Islamabad. Stephen Doughty, who holds the Foreign Office role now, has also been in contact with counterparts, the report said.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry and its high commission in London did not respond to requests for comment.
Protests linked to JAAC crackdown
Islamabad has faced accusations of conducting a violent crackdown on supporters of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil society group that launched protests in Kashmir months ahead of a three-phase vote that began on 27 July.
Pakistan designated the JAAC a terrorist organisation and imposed a communications blackout in the region from 5 June. Security forces have been accused of fatally shooting at least 30 people during demonstrations last month, accusations the government has rejected.
The JAAC says authorities are suppressing dissent and detaining scores of supporters, describing those held as ordinary Kashmiris. The group has said the election process amounts to a “sham” conducted “at gunpoint”, the report said.
Detained Briton in Mirpur prison
Another British national, Waqas Arif, 38, from Nottingham, has been held in a regional prison for more than two months after being detained in the Kashmiri city of Mirpur on 5 June, following protests.
His family said he did not take part in demonstrations. His sister, Sumera, said Pakistani forces, along with the Rangers, came to their home after other relatives were seen heading to protests and took her brothers away. She said she was not aware of any charge being brought against Arif and added that he had not been taken to court.
Arif’s wife, Varisha Kampulvi, said British authorities had not been able to make direct contact with him since he was transferred to the prison in Mirpur. She has been raising his case with UK officials.
A Foreign Office email sent to Kampulvi on 26 June stated that consular staff had been able to make contact with prison officials where Arif was being held, although it said there had been no direct contact with him. The email added that authorities confirmed he was in good health.

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10 August 2026

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August 10Aug 10

Brexit Rules Threaten British Widow After 21 Years in Sweden

EU

Brexit Rules Threaten British Widow After 21 Years in Sweden

A 78-year-old British widow, Joyce Thomas, is taking legal action to stop Sweden from deporting her after Swedish authorities ruled her post-Brexit application to remain was submitted too late.

Thomas, a retired nurse, has lived in Sweden for 21 years and was told she must leave within four weeks in November. Her case is part of a wider wave of orders affecting British nationals following the end of free movement rights after Brexit, which both campaigners and the UK government say has become unusually difficult in Sweden.
Deportation order after rejected late application
Thomas was widowed in 2021, after her husband, Gwynne, died of cancer in 2023. The couple had lived in Sweden for years after moving to an apartment in Hammarö, near her son and grandchildren, and close to her husband’s grave.
She said she and her husband only learned in 2022, when they returned from the UK to visit their second son in Brighton, that a formal application to stay would have been required after Brexit. She added that her husband had handled their administration and was confident he would have applied had he known.
Under the EU-UK withdrawal agreement, late applications can be considered where there are “reasonable grounds”. Thomas’s application was rejected in 2024 on the basis that she could not show such grounds. A further bid to stay under Sweden’s national immigration rules was also refused.
With the help of lawyers working pro bono, she is now challenging the decisions in a higher court.
Case follows other concerns about UK citizens in Sweden
Thomas’s situation has drawn fresh attention following an earlier case involving a British woman with dementia who faced deportation in Sweden shortly before she died, according to the report that prompted new concern.
Her departure notice has been described as especially distressing given her age and long residence in Sweden. She has said she has no criminal record or driving penalties and that she has lived on her own financial means. She also argued it would be difficult to move again to maintain contact with her family and to visit her husband’s grave.
UK says Sweden takes a stricter approach
The UK government has said it regularly raises concerns with Swedish authorities and the European Commission, which monitors how EU citizens’ rights are implemented in member states.
Data cited by the UK shows Sweden has carried out the highest number of Brexit-related deportations of Britons among EU countries. Eurostat figures show 2,500 British nationals have been ordered to leave Sweden since Brexit, accounting for about one-third of the removal orders issued across the 27-member bloc since 2021.
The UK also pointed to rejection rates under the withdrawal agreement. According to an analysis of European Commission reporting, Sweden refused almost 4,000 applicants for post-Brexit residency status out of 14,200 submitted. The refusal rate of 27.5% is described as three times higher than any other EU member state and far above an EU average of between 3% and 4%. Comparable figures cited include Bulgaria, which refused five out of about 16,000, and Belgium, which refused 605 out of about 13,000.
UK government sources said Sweden was “taking a considerably stricter approach” than other states, with the result that applicants are unlikely to have their “reasonable grounds” accepted in practice.
Swedish immigration authority sets threshold for late claims
A spokesperson for Sweden’s immigration authority, Migrationsverket, said late applications can still be submitted in exceptional circumstances, but the applicant must explain in writing why they could not apply within the prescribed period. The spokesperson added that simply stating the person was unaware of the requirement to apply is not, by itself, considered a sufficient explanation.
Labour’s Peter Kyle, MP for Brighton, whose constituency includes Thomas’s home area in the UK, said her case was “deeply concerning” and urged Swedish authorities to take account of her long residence, family ties and humanitarian factors.

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10 August 2026

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August 10Aug 10

AOC Says US Politics Shaped Her Egg Freezing Decision

USA

AOC Says US Politics Shaped Her Egg Freezing Decision

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said on Sunday that the political climate helped shape her decision to freeze her eggs, describing it as part of a broader effort to discuss reproductive healthcare openly.

Speaking to ABC News’ This Week co-anchor Jonathan Karl, the New York Democrat said she chose to talk about the process publicly because of what she described as restrictions on reproductive rights under the current US administration. She pointed to policies she said are limiting care, including abortion access and the ability to carry a healthy pregnancy.
“In this political environment where this administration is denying reproductive care to women across the country, from abortion rights to the ability to carry out a healthy pregnancy, I think it’s important for us as leaders to have these conversations and share these processes, especially for working women across the country and normalize them,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Announcement came ahead of Sunday TV appearance
Ocasio-Cortez, 36, first disclosed her decision earlier in the day through Instagram posts made hours before her scheduled appearance on This Week.
In the videos, she discussed her plans to share the process and appeared to document giving herself an injection. She later said she would continue to speak about egg freezing and invited followers to send in questions.

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10 August 2026

• 66 comments
• 234 views

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August 9Aug 9

Iran Resumes Public Executions After Protests

Iran

Iran Resumes Public Executions After Protests

Public executions have returned to the streets of Iran as authorities step up pressure on dissent following months of war with the United States and nationwide protests in January, human rights groups and relatives of those executed said.

The cases highlighted renewed concerns about the use of the death penalty in proceedings linked to protests and allegations of coercion during detention. The United Nations human rights chief said the executions form part of a widening post-war crackdown.
Executions in Isfahan
Human rights groups said cranes were used to set up hanging ropes in Isfahan, a central city, where three young protesters were executed.
Amirhossein Safari, 27, Abolfazl Sepahi, 23, and Alirez Sepahi, 25, were taken by van to Alikhani Street, according to the groups. They were hanged for alleged crimes connected to protests against the regime in January.
News of the planned execution circulated early on Tuesday, July 28, prompting security measures at Alikhani Square in Isfahan. Scaffolding was installed in the early hours, and a crane was brought to the site as forces gathered, raising fears the executions could be carried out in public.
Eyewitnesses told ABC News that the defendants were transported to the square in a van, escorted by a truck carrying a machine gun on its back to deter protesters. Videos shared online showed people chanting slogans, clashes breaking out and others fleeing as security forces moved in.
The men arrived at dawn, shortly before the morning prayer call, a time when Iranian law requires execution sentences to be carried out.
While Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi were hanged on Thursday, Alireza Sepahi did not reach the gallows and was taken to hospital after collapsing, which human rights groups described as heatstroke or a heart attack.
Scale of executions and legal warnings
The Islamic Republic has executed at least 56 people on national security-related charges since March 19, including 27 connected to the January protests, Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement on Wednesday. Türk warned that more than 100 others face the possibility of execution on similar charges, urging scrutiny of the cases.
In the Alikhani case described by Iranian judiciary and human rights sources, 12 young men were sentenced to death and several others received prison terms of five to 10 years. Of the 12 sentenced to death, four had been hanged and eight were awaiting execution at the time of reporting.
Lawyers in Iran told ABC News that the true number of people at risk on protest-related national security charges could be higher than UN estimates.
Allegations of torture and pressure on families
Relatives and friends of defendants in the Alikhani case told ABC News that the regime forced them to confess. They said the men were subjected to severe physical and psychological torture for days and were not allowed to choose a lawyer.
The families, who asked not to be named for their safety and to prevent further pressure on their sons, said the court in some instances rejected evidence meant to show the defendants were not at the alleged crime scene during the time in question.
They also said the pro bono lawyer assigned by the judiciary was not given access to the case during the trial and was refused access even after the death sentence was issued. The relatives added that the lawyer and the defendants’ parents were told about the sentence only after the court had delivered it.
Türk condemned the death sentences in the case last week and expressed concern about the judicial process and reports that statements described as confessions were “allegedly obtained under torture and other ill-treatment”. He said the death penalty is “incompatible with the right to life” and “irreconcilable with human dignity”, adding it “has no place in our world”.
Amnesty International also condemned the hangings in a statement on Tuesday following the executions of Safari and Abolfazl Sepahi. It warned that three of the prisoners on death row had been arrested as children.
Amnesty said the lack of a strong international response risked encouraging Iranian authorities to continue executions, and called on UN member states to take urgent coordinated diplomatic action to halt further killings.
Relatives and contacts of imprisoned protesters told ABC News that security and intelligence forces have warned detainees not to speak to the media and threatened consequences, including harm to other family members, if they do.

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10 August 2026

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August 9Aug 9

Burnham Starts UK Tour to Tackle Cost-of-Living Pressures

UK-Politics

Burnham Starts UK Tour to Tackle Cost-of-Living Pressures

Andy Burnham is due to announce a series of measures aimed at easing pressures on people struggling with the cost of living in the coming days, Downing Street said.

The prime minister’s programme is intended to “give people some room to breathe”, No 10 said, as he begins a summer tour of the UK focused on both cost-of-living support and improvements to high streets.
Cost of living measures
Downing Street said Burnham will roll out “pro-consumer cost of living measures” designed to tackle everyday problems such as hidden pricing and what the government describes as consumers being ripped off.
A spokesman said Burnham believes people have not been helped by years of messaging that suggests day-to-day difficulties must be accepted as part of life. He said the plans will seek to provide practical relief as the government prepares its wider agenda.
High streets and regional tour
Burnham is also set to concentrate on “improving high streets” while meeting people across the UK’s nations and regions. No 10 said he has been in “listening mode” during the tour to help inform a “10-year plan to bring back hope” and make Britain “better off”.
Although Burnham has been on holiday this week, the spokesman said he will use the tour to gather views on local concerns and priorities.
Pressure over early release scheme
As the government prepares for the cost-of-living announcement, Burnham is likely to face continued scrutiny over a prison early release scheme in England and Wales, which is set to begin in October.
Criticism has focused on the fact that two of the killers of PC Andrew Harper are due to be eligible for release under the scheme from next year. Burnham ordered a review soon after taking office that narrowed the range of people who would qualify, but those convicted of manslaughter will still be eligible, including in the Harper case.
PC Harper’s family, former senior police officers and opposition politicians have called for the individuals to be denied early release. Burnham has said he cannot go further without risking prison capacity, a position No 10 said remained unchanged on Saturday night despite reports that he could revisit the decision.
The scheme has been in place for England and Wales since late 2023 under the previous Conservative government. However, the Ministry of Justice has warned that the prison population could exceed capacity as soon as November.
No 10 said recent figures for England and Wales, recorded on 23 August, showed the prison population at 86,495—more than 97% of usable capacity.
Opposition reaction
The Conservatives said the government’s approach to cost of living was harming high streets, arguing that “tax hikes and red tape are hammering our high streets”.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said Labour was planning to release “dangerous criminals” onto streets while also driving up prices for the public through its economic policies.
Liberal Democrat Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said businesses on high streets needed more than what she described as a “vanity tour”, and argued that the prime minister should adopt Lib Dem proposals. These include reversing what she described as a jobs tax, delivering an emergency VAT cut for hospitality, replacing business rates and tackling “ghost landlords”.
Reform UK economic spokesman Robert Jenrick said that if Burnham wants to help with the cost of living, he should scrap green levies and taxes on energy bills and rule out tax rises at the Budget.

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10 August 2026

• 21 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Two Drones Spotted Over German Military Base

Germany

Two Drones Spotted Over German Military Base

Two drones were reported over a military base in western Germany, days after an explosive-laden device was discovered at Leipzig airport, German officials said.

The Bundeswehr, Germany’s armed forces, confirmed that two unmanned aircraft were seen on Thursday evening at a site in Mechernich, near Bonn. The base is thought to host equipment used in support of US-made Patriot air-defence systems, according to a Bundeswehr spokeswoman.
Military police called before handover to local police
The spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr Joint Force Command said military police were deployed to the area before the case was transferred to local authorities. It was not immediately clear what the drones did during the incident or whether they were recovered.
The report adds to a pattern seen in Europe, where drones have been spotted near military sites and airports supporting Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s war. In such cases, suspicion has often fallen on Russia, which has repeatedly denied involvement.
Leipzig/Halle airport under investigation
Germany is investigating how a drone carrying explosives reached a runway at Leipzig/Halle airport. The airport is used by Nato, the German military and as a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines.
When asked by the BBC on Sunday about the suspected origin of the drones reportedly seen at Mechernich, the Bundeswehr declined to comment on the investigation.
Local police have been contacted for comment. German media reports said the Mechernich base has a storage facility for equipment and spare parts used to maintain Patriot missile batteries.
Patriot systems targeted by demand from Ukraine
Patriot air-defence systems have become important for Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian ballistic missiles since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
This week, President Volodymyr Zelensky urged allies to provide further supplies, warning that Ukraine was running out of interceptor missiles. He renewed pressure as the conflict continues to strain air-defence stocks.
Earlier this year, the US offered Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot systems in early July, but last week President Donald Trump denied that any such agreement had been reached.
EU discusses wider drone security after sightings
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the Bild newspaper on Sunday that Germany had become a regular target of “destabilising” attacks. He said the country was not at war but was facing “hybrid warfare” on a daily basis.
A series of drone sightings in European airspace last year led to heightened alert levels across the continent. The EU then began discussing a continent-wide “drone wall” to strengthen defences.
Some European officials have blamed Russia for drone sightings, charges Moscow has described as “absurd”.

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10 August 2026

• 10 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Netanyahu Rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan on Hamas Disarmament

Gaza

Netanyahu Rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan on Hamas Disarmament

Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected US President Donald Trump’s 15-point plan for Gaza, saying Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas is “genuinely” disarmed.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel “rejects the 15-point document” and that the Israeli military “will not carry out any withdrawal until Hamas is genuinely disarmed”. He added that Israel would continue to “thwart threats against our forces and our citizens”.
Withdrawal tied to Hamas disarmament
The position marks another setback for Trump’s proposal, which was announced in September and centres on disarmament, an Israeli troop withdrawal and reconstruction in Gaza.
Netanyahu said discussions were under way with US officials about how to proceed. He said some ideas were acceptable to Israel and others were not, adding that Israel intended to “stand our ground” on key points.
He also faced pressure from members of his right-wing coalition to adopt a harder line on Gaza, and there have been calls from far-right figures to vote again in the cabinet and end the plan. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir dismissed the draft as “not acceptable”.
Hamas conditions on “ending aggression”
Trump’s administration had said its plan would rely on an agreement reached last month for the “complete disarmament” of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, overseen by a US-led structure described as the Board of Peace.
Hamas, however, said any handover of heavy weapons would depend on Israel ending “all forms of aggression” and withdrawing its forces from Gaza.
A Hamas official told the BBC on Sunday that the group “reaffirms it commitment” to the agreement and was ready “to engage seriously and responsibly in implementing” the 15-point plan. The official called on mediators to ensure “that all parties comply with what has been agreed”.
Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Gaza since agreeing to an initial ceasefire in the territory last October.
US envoy defends the approach
Nickolay Mladenov, a senior diplomat tasked with implementing Trump’s Gaza plan, defended the proposal on Sunday and said talks were ongoing in the hope of a “positive outcome”.
In comments to Israel’s Channel 12, Mladenov said Israel had been asked “to give the process a chance” and that the plan was “the only way forward” to prevent a repeat of the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.
He said the draft is designed as a process that is “verifiable” and “reversible”, adding that it could be stopped at each stage. Mladenov also said Israel would not be required to withdraw until it could be verified that Hamas had taken steps towards disarmament.
Conflict and displacement
The war in Gaza began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, according to Israeli statements.
More than 1.9 million people, or 90% of Gaza’s population, have been displaced since the war began, according to the United Nations. The Gaza health ministry has reported that more than 73,000 people have been killed; the UN considers the figures reliable.

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10 August 2026

• 15 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Iran Sets Conditions for Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Iranian Conflict

Iran Sets Conditions for Strait of Hormuz Reopening

Iran has set preconditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, demanding compensation for damage from the conflict and calling for broader changes to US policy, in a move that could complicate efforts to restart shipping through one of the world’s busiest maritime routes.

Tehran has imposed an effective blockade of the strait since the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran in late February. Iran has also attacked ships it accuses of trying to avoid its preferred routing and has called for tolls for passage, despite the strait having been free to transit before the war.
Preconditions tied to June accord
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said discussions with Oman on transit and management of the waterway were “approaching the final stages”. However, he said any reopening was “subject to other conditions and compensation for the violation” of a June memorandum.
Iran’s security chief, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, set out a detailed list of demands on Saturday. Alongside calls for compensation for wartime damage, he said Iran wanted an end to what he described as “war and aggression against Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Palestine, Yemen, and Iraq”.
According to remarks reported by Tasnim news agency, Zolghadr also demanded the lifting of a parallel US naval blockade of Iran, an end to sanctions, the release of frozen assets, and compensation tied to violations of the June agreement.
The comments come after attacks in the strait led to the collapse of an April ceasefire. Since then, mediators have urged both sides to return to the terms of the June memorandum.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards said the reopening of Hormuz had “nothing to do with the negotiations between Iran and Oman”. They added that the “enemy is forced to accept Iran’s conditions for the opening of the strait”.
Shipping risks and fresh accusations
Transit through Hormuz has dropped significantly. Iran has targeted vessels it accuses of skirting its preferred route through Iranian waters.
On Saturday, the United Arab Emirates condemned what it called a “hostile Iranian attack” on a tanker owned by ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) while it was transiting the strait. The UAE said a missile struck the tanker but that there were no casualties.
Later, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a ship was hit by a projectile off Oman in the Strait of Hormuz and that a fire broke out but was extinguished with no casualties. UKMTO said it was unclear whether the incident referred to the same vessel.
On Friday, ADNOC said that since the war began, 15 of its vessels had been attacked in Hormuz, including three in the previous week alone.
Oman’s foreign ministry on Saturday condemned “repeated attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz”, without naming Iran. It said talks on navigation arrangements were continuing in a “positive and constructive atmosphere” and urged against actions that could jeopardise progress.
The June framework described future arrangements for the strait as being worked out by Iran and Oman with other Gulf countries, in line with international law. International law generally prohibits tolling in such waterways.
Regional security talks widen
Separately, Turkey’s foreign minister said Egypt is expected to join a joint defence agreement between Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan aimed at stabilising the region.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that “at the next stage” Egypt would be included in the alliance, describing it as acting “as if we were alliance members”. He also said the agreement does not target a specific country, adding: “There is no common threat that we have put in writing,” according to the news agency.
A drone struck US assets at an Egyptian port on the Mediterranean last month, which was described as the first drone attack on Egyptian territory since the outbreak of the Iran war.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry said on Friday that under the pact an attack on any member would be treated as an attack on all, adding that it was intended to “strengthen collective deterrence”.

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9 August 2026

• 47 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Trump Ex-Lawyer Blanche Confirmed as AG in 50-49 Vote

USA

Trump Ex-Lawyer Blanche Confirmed as AG in 50-49 Vote

US President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, has been narrowly confirmed by the Senate as attorney general, ending a prolonged dispute between Republican lawmakers and the administration over his nomination to lead the Justice Department.

The confirmation vote took place overnight, with Blanche approved 50-49. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, joined all Democrats in opposing his appointment, leaving Bill Cassidy to cast the deciding ballot. Blanche has been serving as acting attorney general since April, when Pam Bondi was dismissed from the role.
Close Senate vote ends confirmation standoff
Blanche’s path to confirmation had been delayed since April by concerns within the Republican conference, as well as resistance from Democrats. The near-tie underscores the sensitivity of the attorney general post for the Trump administration, coming after months of heightened political and legal tension involving the nominee.
After the result, Blanche said he was “deeply honoured by the trust and confidence” Trump had placed in him.
Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, said the decision was focused on Blanche and the circumstances of his nomination rather than a verdict on Trump. Speaking before the vote, he said that, “all considered,” he would support Blanche, adding that while Trump would ultimately set the direction of the Justice Department, Senate confirmation would give Blanche “greater leverage” to push for changes Cassidy believed were needed.
Cassidy’s vote carried additional significance given his tense political history with Trump. During Trump’s second impeachment trial in 2021, Cassidy voted to convict following the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot. After Trump returned to office, he backed a challenger against Cassidy and forced his retirement from the Louisiana Senate seat earlier this year.
Republicans’ concerns cited over documents and DOJ plans
Some Republican senators had questioned Blanche’s handling of the release of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein. They also raised concerns about his role in setting up Trump’s proposed “anti-weaponisation” fund, described as a plan to provide compensation to people who alleged government persecution.
Critics, including Murkowski, argued that the scheme could instead benefit individuals connected to prosecutions tied to the 6 January attack on Congress in 2021. During his confirmation hearings, Blanche pledged to reverse course on the fund after pushback from Republican senators, but it remained unclear whether that commitment was legally binding or whether Trump could later seek to revive a similar mechanism under a different name.
Murkowski said she lacked confidence in Blanche to “check the worst impulses” of the administration, citing concerns about what she called the politicisation of the Justice Department.
Collins also raised objections related to Blanche’s involvement in settling Trump’s $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Despite those reservations, Collins said she trusted Blanche to provide Trump with candid legal advice.
Democrats warn of governance risk; Republicans praise qualifications
Democratic leaders criticised the nomination regardless of the narrow margin. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he was concerned Blanche’s appointment would serve as an “excuse” and argued it would help enable corruption. He said that, in his view, Blanche had continued Trump’s wrongdoing and that senators who voted to confirm him were “enablers” as well.
Most Republicans, however, moved quickly to celebrate the outcome. Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley said Blanche demonstrated “extraordinary patience, compassion and tenacity” through the process, adding that there was no doubt the nominee was qualified.
Blanche had been deputy attorney general before taking on the interim leadership role in April after Bondi was fired. His confirmation on a 50-49 vote puts him in charge of the Justice Department at a time when the Senate remains sharply divided on how far the administration will push prosecutorial and legal strategies.


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9 August 2026

• 46 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Israel Moves to Seize Major Roman-Era West Bank Site

Israel

Israel Moves to Seize Major Roman-Era West Bank Site

Olive groves on a hillside overlooking the Roman columns of Sebastia, in the occupied West Bank, have been cultivated for generations by Palestinian families.

One landowner, Abu Mudif, said he has received a notice that his land forms part of an Israeli move to take possession of around 450 acres. Israel says the land is needed to help protect and develop the ancient site as part of plans for a major national park.
Palestinian owners typically receive little compensation for land expropriation, and even when payments are offered, many refuse, viewing acceptance as recognition of a loss that they consider bound up with their heritage. For Mudif, the economic impact is only part of the issue.
“It feels like something essential is being torn away,” he said, adding that he struggles to imagine himself without the land.
Residents fear loss of access to the ruins
Near the site, Nahed Sakha, who owns a local restaurant, said the area is facing potential demolition. She said the Israeli plan appears to aim to separate Palestinian residents from the archaeological complex, which includes remains from the Jewish past as well as periods including the Roman, Crusader and Ottoman eras.
Sakha said restoration and excavation work has begun and that landowners were told they would not be allowed to use or plough their land.
The village mayor, Mohammed Azem, said locals are concerned about cleaning or maintaining parts of the ruins. He described uncertainty about whether doing so could create problems with Israeli security forces and settlers.
The Sebastia area is split between Area B, where Palestinian civil administration and Israeli security control apply, and Area C, under full Israeli control.
UNESCO adds Sebastia to danger list
Unesco has echoed the concerns raised by residents and local representatives. It said Sebastia is not only a World Heritage Site but has now been placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Unesco cited the main threat as the “planned expropriation” and the creation of a national park called “Samaria” (Shomron), warning it could divide the property.
Israel last week allocated about 113 million shekels (£27.8m) to expand its control over archaeological sites in the West Bank, including projects in areas administered by the Palestinian Authority.
Israeli activist Alon Arad, who leads Emek Shaveh, said authorities have moved without consulting the municipality and residents of Sebastia. He said the site is Palestinian heritage and argued that development should involve the local community so it can benefit from it.
Under Israel’s proposals, Sebastia’s entrance would be relocated to the opposite side of the larger site, away from the village, car park and shops.
Palestinian officials responsible for tourism and foreign affairs said they hope Unesco’s decision will strengthen international support for their opposition to Israeli land seizures at Sebastia. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said Unesco cannot rewrite history.
“No vote in an international organisation can change history,” he said.
Herodium land seizure and proposed legal change
Further south, Israel has also begun expropriating land at Herodium, a manmade hill near Jerusalem where King Herod built a palace on its summit. Israel said it wants to seize about 80 acres for “preservation and development”.
Peace Now, an Israeli settlement-monitoring group, said the move is constrained under international law and by rulings of Israel’s Supreme Court, arguing Israel is prohibited from expropriating land for settlement purposes or solely for the benefit of Israeli citizens. Peace Now said Israel would likely seek to frame the expropriation as serving both Palestinian and Israeli populations, despite what it described as the apparent link to settlement expansion and Israeli control.
Shmuel Browns, who has worked on excavations at Herodium, said Israeli archaeologists and officials need to be able to oversee and protect sites with religious and historical significance. He said Israel sees itself as responsible for safeguarding archaeology, artefacts and the history of the land.
At the same time, Far-right figures in Israel’s current government have pushed for wider powers. A bill proposed earlier this year would have moved control of archaeological sites from the military-linked Civil Administration to the Israeli heritage ministry, giving it broad authority to seize land for archaeological preservation across the West Bank. The bill passed its first reading in parliament in May but is currently on hold as elections near, and may not return.
In Sebastia, Arad said the legislation proposal illustrates how archaeology is being used to advance land and governance aims, by supporting excavations and narratives while also shifting land from Palestinian to Israeli control. He said Palestinian residents fear their connection to the ruins may be lost.

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9 August 2026

• 78 comments
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August 9Aug 9

Greenland Gives Strong Warning to Trump-Linked Oil Firm

Greenland

Greenland Gives Strong Warning to Trump-Linked Oil Firm

Greenland Warns Over Trump-Linked Firm's Drilling Plans
Greenland’s government has issued a “strong warning” after equipment linked to an American oil firm with connections to Donald Trump was brought ashore for exploratory drilling, despite the company receiving no approval from local authorities.

The warning was issued after materials to prepare for drilling were landed in recent days on Greenland’s eastern coast, as the US president renewed threats to claim the Arctic territory.
The government said it had not granted permission for the equipment to be brought into the area. “All future logistical matters must be advised and approved by the mineral resources authority – before they are carried out,” it said in a statement.
Two days later, Trump made another post on Truth Social, showing himself looming over a Greenlandic village.


Oil plans for Jameson Land
The firm, Greenland Energy, is a Texas company set up last year. Its executives have said up to $1tn (£7.5tn) of crude could be located beneath the Jameson Land region and they plan to spend $60m to drill two wells to test the prospect.
Although Greenland stopped issuing new oil licences in 2021 on environmental grounds, exploration rights for Jameson Land were secured by a UK company called 80 Mile. Greenland Energy’s filings state it intends to take a majority stake in the project in return for funding the exploration, while still requiring government permission before drilling can begin.
The company has declined to respond to questions from the Guardian.
Documentary and links to Trump circle
Greenland Energy has said it has retained Phil McGraw, better known as Dr Phil, to make a documentary series intended to “capture the mission of these modern-day wildcatters”.
It has also appointed as a director a US navy veteran involved in Golden Dome, a missile defence plan that Trump has said requires controlling Greenland.
Larry Swets, the chair and a major shareholder, has indicated he believes the project is not linked to American annexation. He previously said the company’s communications had caused confusion after a representative made a false claim at a community meeting in June that it had permission to land drilling equipment.
In the following month, local residents in the sparsely populated region noticed a tug towing a barge towards shore and unloading a dozen containers. Greenland’s government said the operation was intended to move equipment onshore at Nunap Qeqqa in connection with planned exploratory drilling. Danwatch quoted the head of the shipping company as confirming the delivery was for Greenland Energy.
Approvals pending, drilling timetable set
In a letter to shareholders dated Thursday, Greenland Energy said “recent high-level meetings” with Greenlandic regulatory and oversight authorities had been constructive and that it remained encouraged about progress toward remaining approvals. The company said that, following those discussions, just one well would be drilled initially.
As a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, decisions on natural resources rest with Greenland’s elected local leadership. The government’s statement suggested it would not be proportionate to demand the equipment be removed, while noting that an application for permission remained under processing.
Some observers note that the planned wells appear to be within a conservation area protected under the Ramsar convention on wetlands. Greenland’s authorities now face a choice between granting permission and refusing it—an issue that also touches on the political context of Trump’s renewed Arctic claims.
A Greenland Energy representative said a vessel carrying its 300 containers of drilling equipment is due to leave Canada on 12 September, with well drilling expected to begin in October. Jeff Landry, the hard-right Louisiana governor serving as Trump’s Greenland envoy, has said Greenland could be pumping oil next year.

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8 August 2026

• 4 comments
• 191 views

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August 8Aug 8

Hunter Biden Calls His Father’s Pardon ‘Not Good’ for America

USA

Hunter Biden Calls His Father’s Pardon ‘Not Good’ for America

Hunter Biden has told the BBC that his father’s presidential pardon was “not good” for the United States, the Constitution and the legacy of Joe Biden, while defending the decision as something he said his father felt he had to do.

In a wide-ranging interview with the BBC’s Newsnight, the son of the former US president said he understood the criticism of the 2024 pardon, but argued that it was still the right act from his father’s perspective.
“What would you have thought of my dad if he did not do that for me,” Hunter Biden said, adding: “It’s something that is easily criticised and for good reason.” He acknowledged that the move would draw scrutiny and said: “All I know is that I’m grateful that he did it for me.”
The interview came as Hunter Biden also discussed his father’s worsening health after a cancer diagnosis and said he has no interest in seeking elected office. He also spoke about his own addiction and recovery.
Pardon defended amid criticism
Hunter Biden said his father granted the pardon because he feared that his son could become a target under Donald Trump’s incoming administration.
He said he was “the only one in the world that could have gotten what I got from the only person in the world who could give it”, arguing the decision reflected concern about what might follow after the election.
Hunter Biden rejected the idea that he and his father had discussed the pardon in advance. He said there was “no way” such discussions could have taken place without becoming public.
He said the pardon was granted in December 2024, and it covered his federal gun conviction, a tax case in which he had pleaded guilty, and any federal offences committed between 2014 and 2024.
Joe Biden, who announced the pardon, repeatedly said before the decision that he would not use presidential powers to intervene in his son’s legal matters. When he granted the pardon, he said Hunter Biden had been “selectively and unfairly prosecuted”.
Addiction described as “hell on earth”
Hunter Biden also gave an account of the depths of his addiction. He said at its worst he drank almost a gallon of vodka a day while smoking crack cocaine almost every 15 minutes.
“It was hell on earth,” he said. “There’s nothing glamorous about it.”
He said drugs and alcohol initially felt like a solution but later became “the thing that almost killed me”. He denied that his position as the president’s son made him feel “untouchable”, saying instead that he was “reaching for anything except oblivion”. He described addiction as a way to escape anxiety and isolation.
Cancer and political focus
Hunter Biden said his father’s cancer has spread, and he described it as having metastasised into his bones. He said it is “very painful” and “very debilitating”, and he spoke emotionally about watching his father’s condition worsen.
“Cancer is really hard,” he said, pausing to clear his throat. “It’s really sad to watch.”
He said Joe Biden remains the centre of the family and spoke of his father’s resilience, adding: “The only thing that I say about my dad, about his health right now, is I wish he would complain more.”
Hunter Biden also reflected on the presidential debate in June 2024 that ended the former president’s re-election campaign. He said he watched it from his home in California and immediately sensed something was wrong, adding: “I was shocked. I knew something was wrong.”
He has previously argued that Joe Biden’s debate performance may have reflected exhaustion after travel, and he questioned whether the illness may have already been affecting his father. In the BBC interview, he said his father remains politically engaged and determined to continue speaking publicly.
When asked about whether he might enter politics, Hunter Biden said he had “no interest in elected politics” and dismissed suggestions that he would seek office. Instead, he said he wanted to devote his time to discussing addiction and recovery, describing that work as something that could bridge political divisions.

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8 August 2026

• 1 comment
• 173 views

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August 8Aug 8

Serial Sex Offender Guilty of Two London Murders

Sex Crime

Serial Sex Offender Guilty of Two London Murders

Simon Levy, a serial sex offender being monitored by London’s Metropolitan Police, has been found guilty of murdering two women and raping a third in the capital.
The Old Bailey jury convicted the 40-year-old man after a trial in which prosecutors said he attacked three vulnerable women involved in street sex work to fund drug addictions. Levy will be sentenced next week after the court adjourned sentencing until Wednesday 12 August.
Levy killed Carmenza Valencia-Trujillo, 53, in March 2025, and then murdered Sheryl Wilkins, 39, five months later. He also raped another woman in January 2025, before the murders, in the same Tottenham car park where Wilkins was later found dead.
Charges Heard At The Old Bailey
Jurors were told Levy had a long record of offending against women dating back to July 2018. The court heard that this included an attack carried out against a prison officer in 2022.
Levy, from Tottenham, declined to give evidence. He pleaded not guilty to the two murder charges and to two counts of rape, as well as to allegations of grievous bodily harm with intent and non-fatal suffocation relating to the surviving victim.
After 13 hours of deliberation, the jury returned guilty verdicts on all charges.
In court, members of the victims’ families wept when the verdicts were read out. Levy, wearing sunglasses and a pointed beard, gave no visible reaction.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC remanded him in custody.
Failings By Agencies Admitted
Following the verdicts, the Metropolitan Police, the British Transport Police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) all acknowledged shortcomings in how Levy was handled.
London’s Victims’ Commissioner, Andrea Simon, said she was “appalled by the litany of failures” in managing a prolific offender. She said scrutiny should extend across every justice agency involved, including opportunities to assess the harm Levy posed and the moments when intervention may have been possible.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said it was deeply concerning that Levy was able to inflict further harm after being freed by police and the courts, and that urgent answers were needed about why the failures occurred.
The Met told the BBC it believed Wilkins’ death could have been avoided without multiple points of failure in dealing with Levy. The force said it did not treat Valencia-Trujillo’s death as a murder even after arresting Levy soon after and finding his DNA on her body, until after he killed again.
StreetlightUK chief executive Helena Croft said the case showed the need to treat women in the sex industry as being at risk of serious violence, adding that there were missed opportunities involving frontline services, information sharing and specialist organisations working with women most at risk.
Prior Convictions On Tubes And Trains
Levy’s latest convictions come after he was found guilty earlier this year, in February, of sexually assaulting 10 women on London’s Tube and other train services, as well as a female prison officer at HMP Brixton. Those proceedings were previously before reporting restrictions, but details of that trial can now be reported for the first time.
The offences included events between April 2022 at the prison and Tube assaults between 24 October 2023 and May 2025. Prosecutors said Levy had already been convicted of sexually assaulting two women in 2018, which is why he was in prison in 2022.
The court was told he lost sight in one eye in an attack in May 2024, and later used that to suggest he was unsteady on his feet and that any contact was accidental. Prosecutors also said he sometimes strapped his arm down and used a jumper or hoodie tied around his waist to conceal his hand as he groped victims.
During sentencing in June for the Tube attacks, Judge Michael Evans told Levy: “You were on the Tube for one purpose only, to sexually assault women.” Levy received an extended sentence of six years in jail plus three years on licence after being convicted of 11 counts of indecent assault, including an offence against the prison guard in 2022.
Oversight, Misconduct And Next Steps
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating two Met officers over a decision in August 2024 to downgrade Levy from a high-risk sex offender to a medium-risk level. The IOPC said a police constable was served with a gross misconduct notice and a detective sergeant with a misconduct notice. It will examine how Levy was managed from his first conviction in September 2021 until his arrest in September 2025, including whether action could or should have been taken to prevent reoffending and whether policies and training were followed.
The IOPC said the notices mean the officers’ conduct is under investigation, not that disciplinary action will necessarily follow.
The British Transport Police said two of its officers have been moved to other roles due to “incompetence” in handling the case, and that procedures have been amended to prioritise linked offences and expediting investigations.
The CPS said its actions fell short of the standard victims, families and the public are entitled to expect, including at points when it could have made stronger representations about bail based on the information available.


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8 August 2026

• UK

• 17 comments
• 478 views

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August 7Aug 7

Westminster Plan To Curb ‘Vertical Drinking’ Sparks Row

UK-Politics

Westminster Plan To Curb ‘Vertical Drinking’ Sparks Row

A plan in London to limit so-called “vertical drinking” has drawn criticism from pub landlords and senior politicians, after Westminster City Council proposed changes to how licensed venues manage busy drinker footfall in the West End.

The term, used as a bureaucratic shorthand for people having a pint while standing rather than sitting, has sparked a political row as the council develops a draft licensing policy for pubs, bars and restaurants in the area. Westminster is responsible for alcohol licensing in much of the capital’s nightlife zone, including streets known for crowds on warm evenings.
The issue has become a flashpoint because many venues rely on patrons who remain on their feet, congregating to share drinks and socialise, sometimes spilling into nearby areas outside.
Pub Industry Warns Of Knock-On Effect
Lesley Lewis, who has run the French House pub in Soho for 37 years, said that discouraging people from standing would not solve disorder and could instead push customers to other parts of London. She argued that the business model depends on customers gathering and spending time in the streets and public areas around the pub, alongside the costs of rent and rates.
British newspaper coverage has amplified the debate, with headlines focusing on whether venues would be forced to create more seating and whether traditional ways of drinking would be curtailed. Westminster said the coverage had misrepresented what the council intends to do.
Westminster Says It Is Seeking Less Noise
Westminster council leader Paul Swaddle said the proposal formed part of a draft policy that is still open for public comment. He said the council’s aim was to reduce noise and disorderly behaviour by encouraging premises to serve more customers while seated, rather than barring people from having drinks while standing.
The draft policy includes a suggestion to discourage “excessive drunkenness” by encouraging businesses to provide additional opportunities for patrons to sit, with table service and fewer spaces described as accommodating high-volume standing drinking.
Westminster said it already supports the hospitality sector, and pointed to the importance of the industry to the local economy. The authority also said its approach is intended to help ensure the area remains a “great place for residents to live”.
The council has more pubs, bars and restaurants licensed to serve alcohol than any other local authority in the UK.
Burnham And Other Officials Reject The Framing
Critics from central and London government have argued that standing crowds are not, in themselves, a nuisance. A spokesman for Prime Minister Andy Burnham said that pubs filled with people standing together to share a drink are part of British life, and said Burnham’s approach is to encourage local leaders to work with hospitality businesses so they can thrive.
Burnham has previously described pubs as being central to high streets, saying he would act as a defender for the sector. His comments came after a visit to a pub in Harlow, Essex.
Officials have also linked the debate to broader concerns that the hospitality industry has not fully recovered from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mayor Khan Signals A Possible Review
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he could use new powers due to be granted to his office later this year to review Westminster’s policy. He said the capital’s hospitality and nightlife are tied to jobs, culture and growth, and argued that London’s approach should not be shaped by an overly rigid mindset.
The council’s draft licensing changes have therefore become part of a wider dispute over how licensing rules should balance visitor demand and public order in the West End, with politicians now pressing for clarity on what would change in practice.

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8 August 2026

• 16 comments
• 850 views

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August 7Aug 7

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Joint Defence Pact

Report

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan Sign Joint Defence Pact

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan have signed a joint defence agreement in Mecca that says an attack on any one of the three countries would be treated as an attack on all of them.

The pact was announced following a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the Saudi city.
Defence Pledge Built Around Collective Deterrence
The “Mecca Joint Defence Agreement” says it is designed “to strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression”. It also stipulates that any armed attack against any one of the three states “shall be regarded as an attack against them all”, according to a joint statement.
The statement added that the agreement provides for closer defence co-operation across multiple areas.
While the pact commits the three countries to mutual support, it does not set out specific obligations for each party, including the practical steps that would follow an attack.
A Turkish official, quoted by Reuters, said the arrangement was “purely defensive in nature”.
Reaction From Tehran After Rising Tensions
The announcement comes amid heightened tensions across the Middle East linked to the conflict involving Iran.
After the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February, Tehran and its allies launched strikes on targets in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states, and disrupted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, both major maritime routes for oil shipments.
The Mecca agreement drew criticism from Tehran. Ebrahim Rezaei, a senior member of Iran’s national security commission, wrote on X that a “paper agreement” between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan would not improve security for Riyadh, adding that past efforts involving American support had not provided protection.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had already announced a joint defence pact last year.
Regional Security Shifts Driving New Calculations
Saudi Arabia’s decision to expand its defence alignments reflects concerns about how regional security has been reshaped by the war around Iran.
Last month, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels, which control much of the north-west of the country, announced a “maritime embargo” against Saudi Arabia. They also targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers in the Red Sea.
Saudi planners were also influenced by last year’s Israeli strikes on Doha that targeted senior Hamas officials. A report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies at the time said Gulf states “recalibrated their defence strategies”, with the Mecca pact presented as one of Saudi Arabia’s responses.
Benefits Viewed Differently by Each Partner
For Pakistan, the defence pact offers support at a time of renewed regional risk. In May 2025, long-standing tensions with India escalated into open conflict. Although an all-out war was avoided, analysts said the economic strength of Saudi Arabia and the military and industrial capabilities of Turkey could prove increasingly significant.
The agreement also coincides with Pakistan’s expanded role in diplomacy. Pakistan has acted as an intermediary between Iran and the US and hosted ceasefire negotiations, increasing its standing in the region, a factor that the pact further reinforces.
For Turkey, the deal is also seen through an industrial and operational lens. Burcu Ozcelik of the London-based Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) said it could open opportunities for Turkey’s defence sector through joint production, technology partnerships, procurement and greater military interoperability.
Unclear Triggers, But Deterrence Is Central
Although the agreement provides a framework for collective deterrence, the absence of detailed obligations leaves unanswered questions about when support would be activated and what form it would take.
Such scenarios could involve complex political choices and require careful diplomacy to avoid escalation. However, the central consequence the three countries appear to be relying on is deterrence: with two additional regional powers behind them, the potential cost of aggression would be higher.

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8 August 2026

• 3 comments
• 149 views

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August 7Aug 7