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PRESS RELEASE : UK to contribute drones, jets and warship to Multinational Mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Ministry of Defence on 12 May 2026.

Defence Secretary announced UK contribution to Strait of Hormuz mission at virtual summit of Defence Ministers today.

Britain will deploy autonomous mine hunting equipment and cutting-edge counter drone systems, along with Typhoon jets and HMS Dragon as part of a future defensive mission to secure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The defensive mission, which would become operational when conditions allow, is backed by £115m new funding for mine-hunting drones and counter-drone systems.

During a virtual summit of Defence Ministers, with representation from over 40 nations involved in the Multinational Military Mission, the Defence Secretary also reaffirmed the UK’s leadership, including as part of a multinational HQ to coordinate efforts.

The UK’s contribution to the multinational mission will include a cutting-edge autonomous kit, as part of the Royal Navy’s shift to a Hybrid Navy. Other nations also utilised the virtual summit to announce their respective capability contributions to the Multinational Military Mission.

The UK force package will include:
- Advanced autonomous mine hunting equipment, including capabilities to detect and defeat mines.
- The Royal Navy’s modular ‘Beehive’ system which can deliver high-speed, autonomous Kraken drone boats allowing the multinational force to sense, track, and identify potential threats and defeat them.
- UK Typhoon jets, battle-proven in the region, ready to conduct air patrols over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Advanced British military mine-clearance specialists, who have been preparing in the UK to conduct mine-clearing operations.
- HMS Dragon deploying to the Middle East to be ready for any mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz. It’s counter drone systems include the cutting-edge Sea Viper system.
These capabilities will enable the UK to make meaningful contributions to be should they be required.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

The UK is playing a leading role to secure the Strait of Hormuz, and we are demonstrating that today with new cutting-edge kit to protect our interests and secure the Strait.

New funding for autonomous mine-hunting and counter-drone systems, our advanced Typhoon jets, and HMS Dragon are strong and clear commitments – commitments to strengthen the confidence of commercial shipping and reduce the burden of the conflict on people at home.

With our allies, this multinational mission will be defensive, independent, and credible.

HMS Dragon is already on her way to the Middle East, having undergone additional training and preparation to ensure that her crew are ready, including further calibrating her advanced systems. This will ensure that the air defence ship is ready for potential future operations in the Strait.

RFA Lyme Bay also continues to be upgraded by the Royal Navy to add new cutting-edge uncrewed equipment, allowing it to be used as a ‘mothership’ for autonomous systems, if required for operations in the Strait of Hormuz.

These contributions complement the UK’s existing defensive operations in the region, with over 1000 UK personnel across the region, including counter-drone teams and fast jet squadrons, which have played an important role in protecting British nationals and our partners in the region.

The multinational plan is strictly defensive in nature and is designed to restore confidence for commercial shipping along the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical trade routes through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes.
May 13, 2026
NEWS STORY : Streeting Holds Brief Meeting With Starmer as Leadership Speculation Intensifies

STORY

Wes Streeting has held a brief meeting with Sir Keir Starmer at Downing Street as the Prime Minister continues to face pressure over his leadership following Labour’s poor local election results.

The Health Secretary spent less than twenty minutes inside Number 10 on Wednesday morning, with reports putting the meeting at around 16 or 17 minutes. The talks came shortly before the King’s Speech, as Starmer attempted to project authority while dealing with the most serious internal challenge of his premiership.

Streeting has been widely discussed as a potential successor if Starmer is forced into a leadership contest. Speculation around his intentions has grown after several junior ministers resigned from the Government, including Dr Zubir Ahmed, a former health minister and ally of Streeting, who said Starmer’s leadership had become “unsustainable”.

There was no immediate sign after the meeting that Streeting was launching a formal challenge. The Guardian reported that UK bond yields fell after a Streeting challenge failed to materialise, while allies of the Prime Minister sought to play down the idea that Labour had a viable replacement candidate ready to move.

May 13, 2026
NEWS STORY : Rhun ap Iorwerth Becomes First Plaid Cymru First Minister of Wales

STORY

Rhun ap Iorwerth has been elected First Minister of Wales, becoming the first Plaid Cymru politician to hold the post and ending Labour’s 27-year dominance of devolved Welsh government.

The Plaid Cymru leader was chosen by Members of the Senedd after his party’s historic victory in last week’s Senedd election. Plaid Cymru won 43 seats in the expanded 96-member parliament, short of an outright majority but enough to form a minority government with support from the two Green MSs.

Ap Iorwerth succeeds Baroness Eluned Morgan, who lost her seat in the election and later resigned as Welsh Labour leader after a severe defeat for the party. Labour, the Liberal Democrats and others abstained in the vote to nominate the new First Minister, while Reform UK nominated its leader, Dan Thomas, but did not have enough support to block Plaid Cymru’s candidate.

May 12, 2026
NEWS STORY : Zubir Ahmed Resignation Raises Questions Over Timing as Starmer Faces Coordinated Pressure

STORY

Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed has resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s Government, becoming the fourth junior minister to quit in a day as pressure intensifies on the Prime Minister to stand down.

Ahmed, the Labour MP for Glasgow South West, said he had resigned “after reflection” and added that “Country first. Always.” In his resignation letter, he said Starmer’s position was now “wholly untenable” and argued that individual achievements in Government had been “dwarfed and undermined by a lack of values-driven leadership at the centre”.

The timing of the resignation will inevitably attract scrutiny. Ahmed served in the Department of Health and Social Care under Wes Streeting, who is widely seen as a possible contender if Starmer is forced into a leadership contest. Several reports described Ahmed as an ally of Streeting, and his resignation came on the same day as other ministerial departures, including Jess Phillips, Alex Davies-Jones and Miatta Fahnbulleh.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Government’s Sovereign AI invests in British-founded AI company redefining how medicines are designed [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 May 2026.

Isomorphic Labs – a company using frontier AI for drug design and development – is the latest to receive investment from Sovereign AI.
- Isomorphic Labs – a company using frontier AI for drug design and development – is the latest to receive investment from Sovereign AI.
- Investment forms part of a raise by London-based scale-up as Britain’s AI sector continues to accelerate.
- Isomorphic Labs is founded by AI pioneer Sir Demis Hassabis, whose breakthroughs have been honoured with accolades including the Nobel Prize and Breakthrough Prize.
Isomorphic Labs, a London-founded and headquartered company, using AI to design and develop new medicines, has been named as the latest firm to receive investment from the UK Government’s Sovereign AI Fund today (Tuesday 12 May).

The investment forms part of a fundraise announced by Isomorphic Labs today, as it scales up its work to tackle some of the world’s most serious diseases.

The company, founded by Nobel Prize-winner Sir Demis Hassabis, is reimagining drug discovery, with AI at its core.

Launched just last month, Sovereign AI is the government’s big bet on promising early-stage AI companies to help them grow, scale and succeed from Britain, offering a range of backing to high-potential AI businesses that are starting out here in the UK.

It is a venture capital fund with the muscle of the state behind it – moving fast, backing ambition and cutting through the red tape that so often holds brilliant ideas back, so they can go on to succeed globally.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

Isomorphic Labs’ ground-breaking work has the potential to reshape completely how medicines are discovered – cutting years off development and giving real hope to people living with devastating diseases. This is AI at its very best – pushing the boundaries of innovation to improve people’s lives.

Britain has a proud history of world-changing medical breakthroughs – from penicillin to MRI scanners. Now in the AI era, we are backing a brilliant UK firm working on another huge jump forward in science to the benefit of people across the country and around the world.

Isomorphic’s work builds on the breakthrough success of AlphaFold: the AI model developed by DeepMind that sent shockwaves through the world of science through its ability to accurately predict the structures of proteins – which are the chemical building blocks of all life on Earth.

Isomorphic Labs is going beyond AlphaFold, developing a number of proprietary breakthrough AI models that together form its unified drug design engine, across multiple therapeutic areas and drug modalities.

This backing brings the number of startups receiving equity investment from Sovereign AI to 3 since it launched, and the overall number of startups receiving Sovereign AI backing – including support accessing compute – to 9.

Sovereign AI Head of Ventures Joséphine Kant said:

Isomorphic is one of the most consequential companies being built anywhere in the world today, and it’s being built in Britain. Sovereign AI exists to invest in the companies that will shape what this country becomes next. Sir Demis Hassabis, Max Jaderberg, and the team they have built deserve a country willing to match their ambition with its own, and we intend to make sure it does.

AI is the defining technology of our era. For Britain to shape its own future in the years ahead, the UK needs to strong, homegrown AI capability. That means backing the very best AI innovators, founders and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life here – and grow and succeed from the UK. With the third largest AI market in the world and more AI startups than anywhere else in Europe, the UK is starting from a position of strength but we know we need to go further and faster. Sovereign AI is the government doing exactly that: making sure the next wave of AI breakthroughs are built in Britain so the benefits – jobs, growth and innovation – remain on our shores.

All of the companies Sovereign AI supports have a meaningful presence here in the UK, and are set to create jobs and contribute to the economy here.
May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : North East AI drive to boost local skills and business growth opportunities [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 12 May 2026.

Primary school children and teachers set to gain AI and digital skills as North East AI Growth Zone Taskforce meets to drive local opportunity.
- 30,000 local primary school children to gain AI and digital tech skills thanks to new funding from North East mayor
- 1,000 teachers backed to teach AI and 150 work placements to keep talent in North East
- Technology Secretary praises ‘strong partnerships’ driving AI Growth Zone Taskforce as billions of pounds invested and further support pledged to upskill women
Tens of thousands of young people and workers across the North East will gain new skills and career opportunities as a result of investment unlocked by the region’s AI Growth Zone, helping residents secure good jobs and local businesses grow.

Announced today (Tuesday 12 May) at the second meeting of the North East AI Growth Zone Taskforce, the package shows how the AI Growth Zone is delivering real benefits for communities – turning AI investment into skills, jobs and opportunity on the ground.

The North East mayor will back the effort with a new £750,000 investment in the government’s TechFirst programme, that will specifically ensure 30,000 primary school children benefit from early AI and digital skills. This will include ‘discovery days’ and local businesses engaging with schools to outline career paths and explain the wider benefits of AI – so children who will grow up with the technology as it develops are given a solid grounding to apply it in their lives.

This follows £1.5 million invested by the government in the North East through the programme, as part of a wider ambition to help 1 million young people from across the UK to benefit directly from the growth of AI, rather than being left behind.

For the first time, the mayor and government have also agreed a regional target – with 80,000 local students in the North East to benefit from the training until 2029.

This will be further complemented by commitments to support 1,000 local teachers to confidently teach AI while the Authority will deliver 150 local work placements, giving young people real experience and reasons to stay and work in the North East.

Speaking at the meeting today, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the AI Growth Zone is about more than technology – it is about ensuring growth reaches every part of the region. She praised the ‘stronger partnerships, new opportunities for local communities, and shared sense of purpose’ developing in the area since the Taskforce’s launch in September.

Meanwhile the North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has published the North East AI Growth Zone Prospectus for consultation, which sets out how it will build on the AI Growth Zone to support skills, adoption and innovation.

This includes proposals for creating good jobs, backing local talent, helping businesses adopt new technologies with confidence, and making sure the advantages of AI are not locked up in a few places, but spread across our towns, cities and communities.

As one part of this SAGE, Accenture and other leading businesses will come together to provide mentoring and leadership to help more women build long term careers in tech.

The AI Growth Zone has attracted major private investment, including £10 billion committed by QTS/Blackstone to build its new data centre with the potential to support up to 5,000 high‑quality jobs rooted in the North East.

Elsewhere the team behind Sovereign AI – a £500 million first-of-its-kind national effort to back Britain’s smartest founders and keep the future of AI built on British shores – are hosting an event in Newcastle today, inviting some of the North East’s most ambitious AI startups to share their growth plans and ambitions, helping government support those driving growth and innovation in the region.

Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:

The North East is already showing how AI can deliver for working people, with billions of pounds invested and thousands of new jobs on the way, as businesses and government work together to make the region a leader in Britain’s AI future.

We’re investing in that progress for the long term. By giving young people the AI skills they need, supporting start-ups and acting to bring more women into tech we can keep talent and opportunity in the North East.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:

The North East is the one to watch when it comes to cutting-edge tech and AI as we work to make sure everyone benefits from our AI growth zone.

We’re already working closely with local employers, training providers and schools to make the North East the best place to live, work and thrive when it comes to tech.

But we know we need to go further to make sure local people really benefit from more opportunities than ever before. That’s why we’re investing in training so our young people can make the most of the exciting opportunities around AI and working with some of the region’s brightest companies to support more women and girls in the tech sector.

Leading software company Sage is also boosting its work to widen access to AI skills and supporting innovation led by women across the region through 2 new partnerships. Working with Empowering You, as the founding partner of Empowering Women to Lead AI in Northern England, it will support women in the region to develop leadership skills in AI through workshops, coaching and group presentations.

In partnership with Techbible, an AI company focused on helping businesses manage their AI tools, it will host a hackathon at its headquarters in June, which will bring together women from businesses across the region to build and deploy AI agents, with no prior coding experience required.

Jonathan Cowan, EVP Product at Sage, said:

The North East has everything it needs to become the UK’s next major tech cluster, combining world‑class academic institutions, deep technical talent and a growing community of innovative businesses.

Through the AI Growth Zone, we have a real opportunity to support small businesses and strengthen the region’s role on the global AI stage. Sage is proud to play its part in our home region, including through partnerships that widen access to AI skills.

Notes to editors
- NECA are investing £750,000 each to expand TechFirst. It builds on £1.5m committed to the programme in the North East by the government over 3 years.
- The Sovereign AI roadshow will be in Newcastle on 12 May for an afternoon event hosted at Atom Bank, as part of its UK-wide engagement tour connecting with AI founders and ecosystems across the country.
May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK Statement on Singapore [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

Statement by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Kumar Iyer, at Singapore’s Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Mr President.

The United Kingdom welcomes the introduction of the Workplace Fairness Act and its decriminalisation of same-sex acts.

We urge Singapore to become party to the ICCPR, legislate against FGM, replace detention without trial with court trials and consider mental capacity in sentencing.

In the spirit of ongoing dialogue, we recommend:

Introduce a moratorium on executions and move towards abolition, and remove judicial corporal punishment;

Mandate rest periods and create digital recruitment and wage payment processes for foreign domestic workers;

Include protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexuality and gender identity in the Workplace Fairness Act and ensure equal treatment in government policies for LGBT+ persons

We thank the distinguished delegation for their constructive engagement today and wish them all the best for the rest of their review.

May 12, 2026
NEWS STORY : UK Warns Bosnia’s Future Cannot Be Held Hostage by Divisive Politics

STORY

The UK has warned that Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future must not be held back by divisive politics, as it raised concerns about threats to democracy, the rule of law and the Dayton Peace Agreement.

Speaking at the UN Security Council, Ambassador James Kariuki, the UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, said the UK remained “deeply concerned” by the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He said some political actors were continuing to obstruct legislative activity, abuse constitutional safeguards and stall progress on Euro-Atlantic integration.

The UK also raised concerns about recent elections in Republika Srpska, which it said had been marked by significant electoral fraud. Kariuki said international support remained vital while democracy and the rule of law were under attack, and backed the rollout of election technology as a way to reduce fraud and rebuild public confidence.

Kariuki said the UK continued to support a fully empowered High Representative as the cornerstone of civilian implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement. He thanked High Representative Christian Schmidt for his work and said the Peace Implementation Council would now take forward the selection of a successor.

The UK statement also criticised rhetoric that stokes ethnic and religious tension, including calls for secession or the creation of a third entity. Kariuki said such rhetoric was anti-Dayton and risked peace and stability, urging politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina to respect the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future cannot be held hostage by divisive politics – UK statement at the UN Security Council [May 2026]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Bosnia & Herzegovina.

The United Kingdom thanks High Representative Christian Schmidt for his dedicated service supporting peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and for his contribution to implementing the Dayton Peace Agreement.

The Peace Implementation Council will now take forward the selection and appointment of a successor.

We reiterate our support for a fully empowered High Representative as the cornerstone of civilian implementation of Dayton.

We remain deeply concerned by the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

As the report sets out, some political actors continue to subvert democratic processes.

They are obstructing legislative activity and abusing constitutional safeguards, stalling progress on Euro-Atlantic integration and the 5+2 agenda, including state property.

Recent elections in Republika Srpska were marked by significant electoral fraud.

With democracy and rule of law under attack, international support remains vital.

We reiterate the importance of constitutional reform that reflects the needs of all citizens and implements European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence.

In this election year, we underline the importance of strengthening democratic resilience.

We support the rollout of election technology as a practical step to reduce fraud and rebuild public confidence in elections.

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s future cannot be held hostage by divisive politics.

Various players are stoking ethnic and religious tensions as a way of advancing their pernicious agendas and stirring up more tension between all of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s communities.

Divisive rhetoric, including calls for secession or a third entity, is anti-Dayton and risks peace and stability.

We call on all parties to reject all narratives which deepen divisions and misrepresent the country’s challenges.

President, Dayton obliges all parties to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Full respect for Dayton remains essential.

The report and ongoing political challenges underline why the High Representative, including the use of executive powers where necessary, remains vital.

The Security Council endorsed Dayton under Chapter VII, including the High Representative, who is appointed by the Peace Implementation Council.

While the United Kingdom supports progress on the 5+2 agenda, those conditions have not yet been met.

Until they are, the role of the High Representative remains essential to safeguarding Dayton and ensuring peace and stability.

We call once again on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s politicians to respect Dayton and the constitutional order, focus on practical reforms in the interests of all citizens, and for the international community to support these efforts.

May 12, 2026
PRESS RELEASE : 52nd Universal Periodic Review of human rights – UK Statement on Solomon Islands [May 2026]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 May 2026.

UK Statement at Solomon Islands’ Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Thank you, Madam Vice President,

The United Kingdom commends Solomon Islands’ progress in implementing recommendations from its last review, including efforts to combat violence against women and girls through the Family Protection Act and the National Policy to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls (2021 – 2027).

We also welcome steps Solomon Islands has taken to raise awareness of CEDAW at provincial and community levels, and the increased integration of gender perspectives in the context of disaster risk management planning.

We recommend that Solomon Islands builds on this positive progress by:
1. Amending the Marriage Act 1945 to raise the minimum age of marriage to 18 years.
2. Adopting the revised Forestry Bill 2004 and Mineral Resources Bill 2025 to safeguard the land rights of local communities against mining and logging.
3. Establishing a National Human Rights Institution in line with the Paris Principles, including by seeking technical assistance.
Thank you.
May 12, 2026