Tag: News Story

STORY

David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, has made a statement following the latest arrest warrants issued under the National Security Law in Hong Kong. Hong Kong authorities have issued arrest warrants for a number of prominent pro-democracy activists living abroad, accusing them of violating the national security law. Lammy said in a statement:

“On Christmas Eve, the Hong Kong police once again targeted individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression, including British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders living in the UK. We will not tolerate any attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law, including its extraterritorial reach. And we call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their targeting of individuals in the UK and elsewhere who stand up for freedom and democracy. The UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. This Government is deeply committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and made valuable contributions to life in the UK. Ensuring their continued safety remains a priority.”

STORY

Just Stop Oil, the climate activist group known for its disruptive protests across the UK, has come under scrutiny for sourcing their iconic T-shirts from China. This revelation has sparked debate about the complexities of ethical consumerism and the environmental costs associated with global trade, with Just Stop Oil already accused by some of causing damage to the environmental campaigning cause by its actions.

The group, which demands an immediate halt to new oil and gas projects, faces accusations of hypocrisy for relying on garments produced thousands of miles away, likely using fossil fuel-powered manufacturing and transportation. Critics argue this undermines their message of environmental responsibility.

“It’s a classic case of ‘do as I say, not as I do’,” said Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a senior Conservative MP, “Just Stop Oil needs to recognise the inconsistency in their actions.”

The controversy highlights the challenges faced by consumers and activists alike in navigating a globalised economy where supply chains are often opaque. While Just Stop Oil promotes local action on climate change, their reliance on Chinese-made apparel underscores the inter-connectedness of global production and consumption.

“This situation exposes the difficulties of making truly ethical choices in today’s world” said Dr. Emily Carter, an expert in sustainable supply chains at the University of Oxford, “even with the best intentions, it’s incredibly difficult to guarantee that every product we use is produced ethically and sustainably.”

Just Stop Oil has yet to officially respond to the criticism.

STORY

Recent reports have surfaced about Prince Andrew’s connection to a Chinese businessman known only as ‘H6’ who has been identified as an alleged Chinese spy. UK intelligence believes H6 was trying to use his relationship with the Prince for influence and they seemed to have a close relationship, with H6 even being invited to Prince Andrew’s birthday party. There are claims that a royal aide suggested H6 could help the Prince with potential investors in China. However, H6 is now banned from the UK due to national security risks and was stopped at the border in 2021 and questioned about possible “hostile activity,” and later removed from a flight and informed of the ban. Both Prince Andrew’s office and the Chinese embassy in the UK deny any wrongdoing. Prince Andrew’s office says he met H6 “through official channels” and no sensitive information was discussed, while the Chinese embassy dismisses the allegations as “spy stories.”

It is rumoured that Iain Duncan Smith, the former Leader of the Conservative Party, may seek to name H6 in the House of Commons this week using Parliamentary privilege.

STORY

Levi Fishlock has been sentenced to nine years imprisonment for deliberately attempting to endanger the lives of hotel staff and asylum seekers staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Manvers, Rotherham. Fishlock said that injuring or killing hotel staff and asylum seekers would be “for a good cause”.

Judge Jeremy Richardson said at the sentencing:

“You were a prominent participant. You played a part in almost every aspect of the racist mob violence on that terrible day in August in Rotherham. You and many like you were intent on spreading a hateful message of violence and racism. From first to last, the venom of racism infected the entirety of what occurred.”

Fishlock’s attempt to kill innocent members of the public as well as endanger and harm police was one of the worst incidents of the rioting which took place in summer 2024. It was revealed in court that Fishlock had a history of violent behaviour and had been involved with incidents of violent disorder and an assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the past.

STORY

After years of brutal civil war, Bashar al-Assad’s regime has fallen after rebel forces, including the powerful Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), have taken control of Damascus and Assad has fled the country to Russia. This marks a significant turning point in the conflict, but the situation remains highly volatile and uncertain and presents a political challenge for the UK. With Assad gone, there’s a power vacuum that various factions are vying to fill. A new opposition-led ‘Salvation Government’ has been declared, but its authority is not yet firmly established. There’s a real risk of further infighting and instability as different groups compete for control.

Exploiting the chaos, Israel has launched large-scale attacks across Syria, including airstrikes and ground offensives. They have seized territory in the Golan Heights and are reportedly pushing deeper into Syrian territory. This raises concerns about a wider regional conflict. Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said in a statement:

“The developments in Syria in recent hours and days are unprecedented, and we are speaking to our partners in the region and monitoring the situation closely. The Syrian people have suffered under Assad’s barbaric regime for too long and we welcome his departure. Our focus is now on ensuring a political solution prevails, and peace and stability is restored. We call on all sides to protect civilians and minorities and ensure essential aid can reach the most vulnerable in the coming hours and days.”

The UN’s special envoy to Syria, Geir Pedersen, expressed his concern about the situation saying:

“I am not in contact with the Israelis. But of course, the United Nations in New York, they are. And you know, the peacekeepers on the Golan Heights are, of course, in daily contact with with Israelis. And the message from New York is the same. What we are seeing is a violation of the disengagement agreement from 1974, so we will obviously, with our colleagues in New York, follow this extremely closely in the hours and days ahead.”

STORY

Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, has met with The Amir of Qatar His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani at Downing Street. A spokesperson said that the UK and Qatar have formed a new clean energy partnership with an initial investment of £1 billion from Qatar. The two countries plan to continue growing their investment relationship and the Prime Minister of the UK praised Qatar’s role in mediating conflicts in the Middle East, specifically mentioning their help in securing the release of hostages from Gaza. He also urged the release of all remaining hostages, including British national Emily Damari.

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Maria Eagle, the Defence Minister, has said that the people of Liverpool should be “hugely proud” of their aircraft carrier and crew. The carrier is docked in Liverpool this week for the first time since March 2020 and the HMS Prince of Wales and her sister ship HMS Queen Elizabeth are the largest warships ever built for the Royal Navy. The vessels are capable of carrying up to 40 aircraft and are an important part of the UK’s defence policy. Eagle said in a statement:

“It was fantastic to see HMS Prince of Wales’s berthed on the River Mersey, showcasing the impressive defence capabilities, sailors and service personnel keeping Britain safe and secure at sea across the globe. It’s a proud moment for the people of Merseyside ahead of the deployment of HMS Prince of Wales next year to the Indo-Pacific region to exercise with partners and allies to help promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.”

STORY

Clive Myrie, the BBC News presenter, has admitted serious allegations made against him that he failed to record external earnings in an abuse of the organisation’s policy. Myrie hasn’t stepped down from the BBC, but said in a statement:

“An apology – I’ve had several administrative issues, and I didn’t fill out the correct paperwork for some of my external public events, so they haven’t been published until now. I’ve told the BBC I won’t be taking part in any more paid external events in the foreseeable future, beyond a handful of pre-existing commitments, so that this doesn’t happen again. My sincere apologies.”

The BBC has this week faced criticism over its failure to deal with allegations made against Gregg Wallace, with the BBC saying in a statement that it was aware of the issue and would be taking “appropriate action”. Some of the clients have included American Express, ING, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, the Football Association and the National Residential Landlords Association..

STORY

Heidi Alexander, the Secretary of State for Transport, has said that it was untrue that nationalisation of rail would cut fares and has confirmed there are no plans to reduce fares. The shock announcement from the Transport Secretary has led to questions as to the integrity of the process as Labour politicians had claimed that privatisation had increased fares, meaning that nationalisation would mean reductions. Rail usage has soared over the previous two decades with record investment and Alexander has pledged to cut delays on the network. Alexander also confirmed that rail prices will still increase by 4.6% in the new year and she had no plans to reduce the increase.

Andy Bagnall, the Chief Executive of Rail Partners, said in a statement:

“Simply changing who runs the trains won’t deliver more reliable and affordable services for passengers, reduce subsidy for taxpayers, or grow rail freight”.

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Ipswich Town FC has confirmed that their captain, Sam Morsy, chose not to wear the rainbow armband during their recent match against Nottingham Forest. The armband, a symbol of LGBTQ+ inclusion, was worn by all other Premier League captains during the weekend fixtures as part of the Rainbow Laces campaign.

Morsy, a practising Muslim, made the decision based on his religious beliefs. The club released a statement expressing their respect for Morsy’s choice while reiterating their commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all.

“At the same time, we respect the decision of our captain Sam Morsy, who has chosen not to wear the rainbow captain’s armband, due to his religious beliefs,” the statement read. “We will continue to grow an environment where all are valued and respected, both on and off the pitch.”  

The club further emphasised their dedication to promoting equality and diversity by highlighting a range of initiatives planned for their upcoming home game against Crystal Palace. These initiatives include a takeover of the stadium’s big screen with messages of inclusion prior to kick-off. Ipswich Town maintains that they are committed to being a fully inclusive club and will continue to work towards creating an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.