The United Kingdom’s High Court has ruled that the government’s decision to designate the activist group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was unlawful. The ruling, delivered in London after several months of legal proceedings, came in response to a judicial review petition filed by the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori. Justice Victoria Sharp stated that the government’s ban represented a serious interference with freedom of expression and assembly, and therefore lacked legal justification.

The British government had imposed the ban in July 2025 under anti-terrorism legislation, making membership, public support, or display of the group’s symbols a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Following the ban, hundreds of people across the UK were arrested and charged under terrorism laws. The government justified the prohibition by citing an incident in which activists allegedly caused £7 million in damage at a southern England airbase during protests over the Gaza conflict.

The High Court’s decision removes the terrorist label from Palestine Action and has reignited political and legal debate over the government’s handling of protest movements related to the Gaza war.

Arab Barghouti, son of imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, has called on the British government to prioritize his father’s release as part of efforts to renew Palestinian democracy. Speaking at a meeting in London, he warned that the UK’s recent recognition of a Palestinian state would amount to false hope unless backed by diplomatic action to secure his father’s freedom. He argued that Marwan Barghouti, despite being jailed since 2003, remains a unifying figure capable of advancing a peaceful two-state solution and democratic reform.

A cross-party group of UK MPs has been campaigning for Barghouti’s release, describing him as a potential bridge toward peace and a legitimate successor to Mahmoud Abbas. The Foreign Office, however, has declined to support the calls, limiting its stance to endorsing Red Cross access to Palestinian prisoners. Barghouti’s 2003 trial, which resulted in multiple life sentences, was criticized by an Inter-Parliamentary Union inquiry for failing to meet fairness standards.

Arab Barghouti said his father has been held in solitary confinement and assaulted since October, urging the UK to act in defense of international law and to help enable genuine Palestinian political renewal.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense political pressure following controversy surrounding former minister and influential politician Lord Peter Mandelson. Scottish Labour Party leader Anas Sarwar has publicly called for Starmer’s resignation, arguing that the ongoing scandal is overshadowing the government’s achievements. The crisis deepened after two senior aides—communications chief Tim Allan and chief of staff Morgan McSweeney—resigned within two days.

The controversy stems from revelations about Mandelson’s close ties with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer faced criticism for appointing Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States in late 2024, a decision later reversed in September of that year. Although Mandelson resigned from both the Labour Party and the House of Lords, the issue continues to dominate headlines. Despite internal discontent, senior cabinet members including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and Angela Rayner have expressed support for Starmer.

Opposition Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Starmer of losing control of his government and warned that failure to manage the situation could trigger calls for a new election. The Foreign Office is currently reviewing financial matters related to Mandelson’s dismissal.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing growing political pressure following the release of documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Amid the controversy, Starmer’s close aide and senior adviser Morgan McSweeney has resigned, according to Al Jazeera. The U.S. Department of Justice recently released hundreds of thousands of new Epstein-related documents, which revealed details of Lord Peter Benjamin Mandelson’s close ties with Epstein, sparking intense debate and criticism in British politics.

In response, Lord Mandelson was removed from his post as the UK ambassador to Washington and later resigned from the Labour Party. Al Jazeera reported that McSweeney accepted responsibility for recommending Mandelson’s appointment and described it as a mistake that damaged public trust in the government and politics. He said he had personally advised the prime minister on the appointment and took full responsibility for that advice.

Earlier, Prime Minister Starmer publicly apologized for appointing Mandelson as ambassador. The British government also announced that all information related to the appointment would be made public and referred sensitive documents to a bipartisan security committee for review.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that ending the ongoing war requires a face-to-face meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Russia to resolve the most difficult issues in peace negotiations. He claimed that only U.S. President Donald Trump has the authority to secure an agreement capable of stopping the conflict. Sybiha expressed Kyiv’s eagerness to accelerate the end of the four-year-long war and to use the current momentum in U.S.-mediated talks before the upcoming midterm congressional elections in November.

In an interview with Reuters at his office on the Dnipro River in Kyiv, Sybiha stated that most points in a 20-point peace plan, developed through recent trilateral discussions among Ukraine, Russia, and the United States, have already been agreed upon. However, he noted that a few highly sensitive and difficult issues remain, which must be resolved directly by the national leaders. The main unresolved matter concerns territorial control: Russia demands that Ukraine cede the remaining 20 percent of eastern Donetsk, while Kyiv firmly rejects this and insists on regaining control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian occupation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing one of his toughest weeks in office after senior Labour figure and diplomat Lord Peter Mandelson resigned following revelations of his past connection with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson, appointed by Starmer as ambassador to Washington, announced his departure from both his post and the Labour Party after new details emerged in the Epstein files, saying he wanted to avoid further embarrassment for the party.

The resignation has intensified internal unrest within Labour, with some members reportedly considering a leadership change. Starmer, who led Labour to a landslide victory in July 2024 promising stability after years of Conservative turmoil, has seen his popularity decline. Party rules make it difficult to remove a sitting leader quickly, but discussions are ongoing about possible mechanisms such as a confidence vote or coordinated pressure from senior figures.

Upcoming by-elections and local polls in Scotland, Wales, and England are seen as key tests for Starmer’s leadership. Poor results could heighten calls for his resignation, though potential challengers Wes Streeting and Angela Rayner are not yet ready to contest his position.

British police are conducting searches at two properties linked to former UK ambassador to Washington Peter Mandelson as part of an investigation into alleged misconduct in public office connected to the late financier Jeffrey Epstein. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that its Central Specialist Crime team is examining addresses in Camden, London, and Wiltshire in relation to a 72-year-old man. Mandelson, who owns homes in both areas, has not been arrested or charged.

The investigation follows the release of documents suggesting Mandelson passed sensitive government information to Epstein about fifteen years ago. Earlier, Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed Mandelson after emails revealed he maintained contact with Epstein following the latter’s 2008 conviction. Newly released US Department of Justice emails appear to show Mandelson shared potentially market-moving information while serving as business secretary under former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

The scandal has intensified political pressure on Starmer, whose judgement is being questioned by both opponents and members of his own party. The prime minister has apologised for appointing Mandelson and pledged full cooperation with police inquiries.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the United States wants the ongoing war with Russia to end by mid-June. He stated that both Ukraine and Russia have been invited to the United States next week for discussions aimed at achieving that goal. According to Zelensky, the US has proposed that negotiating teams from both countries meet in the US, possibly in Miami, and Ukraine has confirmed its participation.

No immediate comments were available from Washington or Moscow regarding the proposal. The report noted that US President Donald Trump has long been pressing for an end to the conflict since taking office. Meanwhile, Russia continues to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages during the harsh winter.

Zelensky also mentioned that a possible trilateral meeting among leaders was discussed for the first time, though he cautioned that preparatory steps are needed before such a meeting. He added that the US aims to complete everything by June, influenced by its internal affairs, but did not provide further details.

Russia has launched large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, causing widespread power outages across multiple regions. The strikes have left millions of people without electricity in freezing temperatures, creating severe hardship. According to Ukraine’s grid operator Ukrenergo, the latest assault targeted key power facilities, resulting in blackouts in most areas. Restoration work will begin once security conditions allow.

The attacks come as Ukraine and Russia recently held two rounds of U.S.-mediated talks in Abu Dhabi since January. During those meetings, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange, but no progress was made on territorial issues. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a senior military intelligence general was shot on Friday, and Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the incident. Kyiv has not commented on the accusation.

The renewed strikes on Ukraine’s energy network highlight the continuing volatility of the conflict and the humanitarian strain on civilians enduring winter without power.

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner exchange following two days of peace talks in Abu Dhabi mediated by the United States. It marked the first such exchange in four months, with each side releasing 157 detainees. The discussions in the United Arab Emirates capital involved delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States, focusing on territorial concessions and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, no progress was reported from the talks.

Amid the negotiations, Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine’s power infrastructure, and the prolonged war continued to cause heavy losses. Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated that Starlink terminals used by Russia for drone strikes inside Ukraine had been disabled. On the same day, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that more than 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in the war, with many others officially listed as missing.

The exchange and talks highlight ongoing international efforts to ease tensions, though the lack of progress suggests that a lasting resolution remains distant.

British scientists from the British Antarctic Survey have introduced an artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to identify and track icebergs as they drift and fragment in the ocean. The announcement, reported from Paris by AFP on Thursday, marks the first use of AI for this purpose. The technology aims to help scientists understand climate change and improve future predictions by monitoring icebergs from their formation to their eventual melting.

According to the researchers, the AI system captures the unique shape of an iceberg the moment it detaches from a glacier or ice shelf. When the iceberg later breaks apart, the system can match the smaller fragments back to the original structure, creating a complete “family tree” of icebergs. This allows scientists to analyze the origins, movements, and climate impacts of entire iceberg systems rather than just a few individual ones.

Researchers noted that the technology could also enhance maritime safety in polar regions. They cautioned, however, that while iceberg calving is a natural process, the rate of ice loss in Antarctica is increasing alarmingly due to climate change.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that around 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war with Russia. He revealed the figure during an interview with France 2 television on February 4, 2026. According to Turkey’s state media TRT World, Zelensky said the casualties include both professional soldiers and conscripts, and many people remain officially listed as missing.

A report by the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimated that by spring 2026, total military casualties, including the dead, wounded, and missing from both sides, could reach about two million. CSIS estimated Russia’s military losses at around 1.2 million and Ukraine’s at between 500,000 and 600,000, with roughly 325,000 Russian soldiers killed over nearly four years of conflict.

The United Nations reported that civilian casualties in Ukraine reached their highest level in 2025 since 2022, with at least 2,500 civilians killed and more than 12,000 injured that year. The UN warned that the actual figures may be higher.

Russia carried out a large-scale missile and drone attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure across five regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday. He said the assault, which occurred on Monday, was the largest of its kind against Ukraine’s power system in nearly four years of war. According to Zelensky, Russia fired more than 70 ballistic and cruise missiles and deployed 450 drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. The Ukrainian Air Force reported intercepting only 38 missiles, meaning many struck their intended targets.

The attacks caused significant damage to power plants and infrastructure in Kyiv and other areas. Private energy company DTEK described the assault as the most powerful strike of the year. The offensive came as temperatures dropped to minus 20 degrees Celsius, worsening civilian hardship. Zelensky accused Russia of choosing terror over diplomacy and urged allies to apply maximum pressure on Moscow.

The scale of the strikes and the severe winter conditions suggest prolonged disruptions to Ukraine’s energy supply and increased humanitarian strain.

Former British minister Lord Peter Mandelson has resigned from the ruling Labour Party following renewed controversy over his alleged links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision came after the US Department of Justice released millions of new documents related to Epstein, which reportedly included Mandelson’s name. He stated that he did not want to place the party in an embarrassing position and announced his resignation soon after the files were made public last Friday.

According to reports, the newly released documents claim that Epstein paid Mandelson a total of 75,000 US dollars in three installments during 2003 and 2004. Mandelson had previously been removed from his position as British ambassador to the United States last year over similar allegations. In a letter to the Labour Party’s general secretary, he expressed regret that his name had again been linked to the scandal.

Mandelson denied the allegations, saying he had no record or memory of any financial dealings with Epstein nearly 20 years ago and called for an investigation into the matter.

At least 12 people were killed when a Russian drone struck a bus carrying miners in Ukraine’s central-eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday. The bus was traveling near the city of Ternivka, about 65 kilometers from the front line. Energy company DTEK confirmed that all victims were returning from work at one of its mines. Photos released by Ukraine’s State Emergency Service showed shattered windows and a damaged windshield.

Regional military administrator Oleksandr Hancha reported on Telegram that the drone hit a company shuttle bus in the Pavlohrad district, injuring at least seven others. The AFP news agency said it could not independently verify the circumstances of the attack. Hancha also reported that a separate overnight drone strike in the city of Dnipro killed a man and a woman.

The attacks occurred as the deadline expired for a unilateral reduction in Russian strikes announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to halt winter assaults on Kyiv and other cities, though the terms remained unclear and the Kremlin did not confirm any weather-related ceasefire.