EU-UK diplomacy, security and global affairs
Australia’s PM wants to revisit visa rules for British backpackers after numbers doubled, concentrating in Sydney and beach suburbs. He raised the issue with Andy Burnham at Chogm in the Caribbean.
Cheshire Police say they cannot intervene in the US investigation into Lucy Harrison’s death, despite a UK coroner finding she was unlawfully killed. Her family is pressing for further scrutiny of evidence.
Two men have been charged after an alleged plot at RAF Fairford that police say was directed by a handler working for Iranian intelligence. The men appeared in court under the National Security Act 2023.
Brussels is urging the British government to increase its financial contribution to Ukraine’s defence in 2027. The EU says it covers 80% of Ukraine’s needs, but wants other allies to pay a fairer share.
The UK is sending RAF Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia for a defensive mission against Houthi missile and drone attacks. The deployment follows deadly strikes on Saudi airports and energy sites.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged the US to keep backing Ukraine during a Washington visit, after a Starlink row. He said he was reassured the system was restored but acknowledged tensions.
After arrests near RAF Fairford and the withdrawal of US bombers, questions grow over Iran’s ability and intent to strike inside the UK. Western officials weigh a public warning.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor discuss ‘end times fascism’ in a new Guardian podcast series, covering Trump 2.0, tech billionaires, Gaza, and the climate emergency.
Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor discuss their ‘end-times fascism’ thesis in a new Guardian series, calling Gaza ‘a moral tear in the universe’.
The British consulate in East Jerusalem will stay open as a UK mission after Israel threatened to close it, with most staff withdrawn but a small team remaining.
