UK sanctions 25 targets in illegal migration crackdown July 23, 2025 The UK government has banned 25 people smugglers, fraudsters, and bankers in the first set of sanctions aimed at curbing illegal migration, putting pressure on countries across Europe and the Middle East to follow suit. The Foreign Office has disclosed the names of 24 individuals and one company it has accused of facilitating people-smuggling and [...]
Sport England boss Boardman asks Ofcom to act on Lionesses abuse July 22, 2025 Sport England chair Chris Boardman has written to regulator Ofcom to raise concerns about online abuse of the Lionesses during the Women’s Euros. It comes after England defender Jess Carter on Sunday revealed she would step back from social media following online racist abuse she received throughout the tournament. Boardman has written to Ofcom chief [...]
UK government to sanction companies driving illegal migration July 22, 2025 The UK government is set to introduce a new sanctions regime targeting people smuggling gangs and rogue companies driving illegal migration as part of efforts to curb small boat crossings and stop modern slavery in the UK. In new reforms unveiled by the Foreign Office, individuals and companies responsible for irregular migration will see their [...]
Exclusive: Starmer and Macron assemble top bosses for summit July 4, 2025 Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are planning to bring together 20 of their countries’ top business leaders for a cross-sector gathering as part of the French President’s first state visit to the UK, City AM can reveal. Set to take place on Wednesday, chief executives and founders from France and Britain will convene in London [...]
Qatar closes airspace as region braces for Iran response June 23, 2025 Qatar shut down its airspace minutes after markets in London closed, with City analysts fearing the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US could yet escalate further. The UK government followed the US in telling its British nationals in the country to take shelter until further notice. The US said the warning was made out [...]
Lammy: Iran blocking Strait of Hormuz would be ‘catastrophic mistake’ June 23, 2025 Foreign secretary David Lammy has warned Iran that blocking the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane would be a “mistake” after the nation vowed repercussions following the US’ attacks. Lammy told the BBC this morning: “It would be a catastrophic mistake. It would be a mistake to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.” The foreign secretary [...]
Starmer calls for negotiations after US attacks Iran’s nuclear sites June 22, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has urged Iran to return to negotiations after Donald Trump launched US air strikes on the regime’s nuclear facilities. The Prime Minister said Iran’s nuclear programme is a “grave threat” which the US military action would “alleviate”. There is understood to have been no UK involvement in the action, which comes after [...]
Lammy set for further talks with counterparts as Iran and Israel exchange fire June 14, 2025 David Lammy is expected to spend the day in talks with counterparts across the Middle East after Iran launched retaliatory attacks against Israel overnight. The Foreign Secretary will be briefed by officials on Saturday and will speak to figures in the Middle East and elsewhere. It comes after conversations with representatives from Iran, Jordan and [...]
Starmer calls Israeli strikes ‘concerning’ June 13, 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned Israel’s attack on Iran’s nuclear programme. In what the Israeli Defence Forces called a “preemptive attack,” 200 fighter jets struck 100 targets, including Iran’s main nuclear enrichment facility, according to Israel. The PM called reports of strikes “concerning,” calling for Israel and Iran to “step back and reduce tensions urgently.” [...]
Oil prices surge after Israel attacks Iran June 13, 2025 Oil prices spiked by more than nine per cent following Israeli strikes targeting Iran’s nuclear programme, in the most dramatic jump in more than three years. Meanwhile, the price of gold hit $3,427 – up 1.2 per cent during Asian trading hours. Israel launched strikes on Tehran early on Friday, rekindling fears of a full-scale [...]