UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Israeli attacks in Lebanon following the ceasefire were 'completely wrong' and urged that Lebanon be urgently included under the US-Iran ceasefire agreement. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s 'Today' program, she highlighted the large-scale displacement of civilians in Lebanon and the resulting humanitarian crisis, calling for an extension of the ceasefire to cover Lebanon.

Cooper also responded to remarks from Iran’s deputy foreign minister, who claimed that the Strait of Hormuz is not part of international waters and that safe passage depends on the goodwill of Iran and Oman. She rejected this assertion, emphasizing that under maritime law, freedom of navigation applies to international transit routes.

Cooper added that no country can unilaterally seize control of such routes or impose tolls, reinforcing the UK’s position on maintaining open international waterways.

At least 15 people were killed and many others injured in a new wave of Russian attacks across multiple regions of Ukraine, according to reports published on April 5, 2026. The assaults, involving drones and missiles, struck civilian areas and heightened concern over rising casualties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul as the violence continued.

Regional officials reported that four people were killed and 11 injured in the Kharkiv region, while 11 others, including a child, were wounded in overnight drone strikes in Sumy. In Nikopol, a drone hit a market, killing five and injuring 25, and six more deaths were reported in Donetsk. Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted or neutralized 260 of 286 drones launched from Russia, though some still caused damage.

The report added that diplomatic efforts to end the war have stalled, with recent meetings in Abu Dhabi and Geneva failing to produce progress. The next round of talks has been postponed due to tensions in the Middle East, while Turkey pledged to continue supporting dialogue.

At least 14 people were killed in a series of Russian attacks across Ukraine on Friday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The strikes involved more than 500 drones and several dozen missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intensifying assaults ahead of Catholic Easter, saying the skies should have been silent during the holy period.

Images released by Ukraine’s emergency services showed damaged residential buildings, debris-strewn streets, and the ruins of a multi-story structure. Regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk reported one death and eight injuries in Kyiv, where a veterinary clinic was also hit, killing about 20 animals. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said drone strikes damaged homes in Obukhiv and near a kindergarten and school in Vyshneve.

Authorities confirmed three deaths in the northern Sumy region, two in Zhytomyr and Dnipropetrovsk, and eight more in border areas including Kharkiv, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia.

British-Bangladeshi community leader, writer, and professional accountant Abu Taher is set to receive the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) honor from King Charles III for his outstanding contributions to social service and charitable work. The official ceremony will take place on May 13 at Windsor Castle, where the King will formally confer the honor. His name has already been announced as an MBE recipient.

Based in London, Abu Taher has been recognized for over three decades of voluntary service, cultural leadership, and humanitarian initiatives that have positively impacted both the British and Bangladeshi communities. Originally from Chandarpur village in Golapganj, Sylhet, he has also made significant contributions to literature, writing poems, essays, and plays that reflect themes of diaspora life, humanity, and cultural identity.

Taher continues to inspire new generations of British-Bangladeshi writers, particularly encouraging young people to engage with the Bengali language and literature, strengthening cultural ties across communities.

The United Kingdom is hosting a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from about 35 countries to discuss ways to reopen the Hormuz Strait, a key maritime route disrupted by the ongoing Middle East war. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the meeting on Wednesday, stating that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will chair the session. The agenda includes restoring freedom of navigation, ensuring the safety of stranded ships and sailors, and resuming the transport of essential goods through the strait.

Starmer added that following the meeting, military planners will discuss how to secure and make the strait operational after the conflict ends. Participating nations include France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the Netherlands, all of which have pledged to cooperate in ensuring safe passage through the area. The strait has been effectively closed by Iran since the U.S.-Israeli offensive began on February 28, causing global oil and gas prices to rise.

Starmer cautioned that reopening the strait will not be easy. He also reaffirmed the UK’s full commitment to NATO, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent criticism of the alliance.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Wednesday, April 1, that its forces have taken full control of Ukraine’s Luhansk region. The ministry stated that western military units had completely liberated Luhansk. Russia also reported capturing the villages of Verkhnya Pisarivka in Kharkiv and Boikove in Zaporizhzhia. Luhansk and Donetsk together form the Donbas region, where Russia already controls most of the territory.

The Kremlin reiterated its call for Ukrainian forces to withdraw entirely from Donetsk, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided to withdraw troops from Donbas, the ongoing war could end. Zelensky, a day earlier, claimed that Russia had given the United States an ultimatum, threatening tougher peace terms if the remaining parts of Donbas were not captured within two months.

The conflict began in February 2022 when Russia launched a military operation to seize Donbas, later expanding into a full-scale war. Western nations have provided Ukraine with extensive financial and military support, contributing to the conflict’s prolongation and escalation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for stronger defense, security, and economic cooperation with the European Union amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Speaking at a press conference in London, he said that the United Kingdom’s long-term national interest requires building a closer partnership with European allies and the EU. Since taking office in July 2024, Starmer has sought to rebuild post-Brexit relations with the bloc, citing instability in the Middle East and the deep damage caused by Brexit as reasons for renewed cooperation.

Starmer emphasized that enhancing security and lowering the cost of living are opportunities too significant to ignore. His remarks come as the traditional “special relationship” between the United States and the United Kingdom faces strain, with U.S. President Donald Trump criticizing Starmer’s stance on the Iran war. While Trump has hinted at reducing America’s role in NATO, Starmer reaffirmed that NATO remains the world’s most effective military alliance.

He stated that maintaining strong ties with both the U.S. and the EU serves Britain’s interests and announced that the UK will aim for a more ambitious economic and security cooperation agreement with the EU at a summit in Brussels later this year.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a virtual meeting on Thursday with representatives from around 35 countries to discuss diplomatic measures aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil transport routes. The meeting seeks to coordinate international efforts to restore safe passage through the strait, which has been effectively blocked since late February.

According to the report, Iran has maintained the blockade using drones, missiles, and possible mines following attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28. The disruption has led to a rise in global energy prices. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier stated that reducing tensions and reopening the strait are essential to addressing the growing cost of living.

The planned meeting underscores the UK’s diplomatic initiative to ease regional tensions and stabilize global energy markets through multilateral engagement.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper will host a high-level international summit to discuss ways to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement comes amid growing disruption in this vital maritime trade route, which has been effectively blocked by Iran in response to attacks from Israel and the United States.

According to the report, the blockade has caused significant interruptions to global energy supplies and driven up fuel prices worldwide. Starmer emphasized that the United Kingdom will not become directly involved in the Middle East conflict. Instead, he stated that the most effective way to control living costs is to apply international pressure to reduce tensions and ensure the swift resumption of normal maritime traffic through the strait.

He added that all possible diplomatic avenues are being explored to achieve this goal, underscoring the UK’s focus on diplomacy rather than military engagement.

Syrian President Ahmed Al Shara met British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at the official residence on Downing Street. The meeting took place as part of Al Shara’s visit to the United Kingdom, following his earlier stop in Berlin where he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The report indicates that Al Shara’s European engagements include discussions with key leaders in Germany and the United Kingdom. However, no details were provided about the agenda, topics discussed, or outcomes of the meetings. The sequence of visits suggests an ongoing diplomatic outreach by the Syrian leadership in Europe.

Further information about the content or results of the talks has not been disclosed in the source.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has ruled out any direct military involvement in the ongoing conflict surrounding Iran. Speaking to reporters, he stated that the United Kingdom will not send troops to Iran, emphasizing that 'this is not our war.' According to Al Jazeera, Starmer confirmed that London is taking certain defensive steps to ensure the safety of British citizens and allied nations in the Middle East.

Starmer added that the UK will continue diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, reiterating that Britain will not enter the war in any form. Despite the decision not to deploy troops, the UK remains strategically involved in the conflict. It has allowed the United States to use British military bases for strikes on Iranian targets aimed at securing the Strait of Hormuz and has deployed fighter jets to intercept Iranian missiles.

These actions indicate a cautious British approach—avoiding direct combat while maintaining regional security commitments and supporting allied operations.

British officials have warned that global food prices could rise due to the economic impact of the ongoing war involving Iran. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is scheduled to meet business leaders at Downing Street on Monday to discuss the issue. The warning follows Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which has already driven up oil prices and raised concerns about fertilizer costs, according to a maritime analyst.

Lars Jensen, founder and CEO of shipping consultancy Vespucci Maritime, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that 20 to 30 percent of the world’s seaborne fertilizer originates from the Persian Gulf region. He cautioned that this disruption could cause food prices to increase rapidly, particularly in poorer countries. The UK’s National Farmers Union also warned that higher fuel and fertilizer costs would inevitably push up domestic food prices.

The discussions at Downing Street are expected to focus on mitigating the potential economic fallout and ensuring stability in the UK’s food supply chain.

Hundreds of thousands of people marched in central London on Saturday to protest against Islamophobia and far-right extremism. The demonstration, organized by the group Together Alliance, began at Park Lane after participants gathered near Whitehall by the Parliament building. Around 500 organizations, including trade unions, anti-racism campaigners, and Muslim representative bodies, joined what was described as the largest multicultural gathering in British history. Organizers estimated attendance at about 500,000, while London’s Metropolitan Police put the figure closer to 50,000, citing difficulty in determining the exact number due to the large turnout.

Together Alliance chair Kevin Courtney said the march aimed to build confidence in confronting Islamophobia and far-right movements. Trade unionist Adam Mouss told Al Jazeera that racism and Islamophobia had moved from the fringes into mainstream politics. Several left-wing politicians, including independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, MP Diane Abbott, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, joined the rally.

A counter-demonstration featuring Israeli and pre-1979 Iranian royalist flags took place nearby. Police arrested 18 people outside New Scotland Yard during a separate protest supporting Palestine Action.

Tens of thousands of people marched through central London on Saturday in what organisers described as the largest anti-far-right demonstration in British history. The Together Alliance, supported by around 500 groups including trade unions, antiracism organisations and Muslim representative bodies, led the rally that converged on Whitehall near the Houses of Parliament. Organisers claimed half a million participants, while police estimated about 50,000. The event was met by a much smaller group of counterprotesters waving Israeli and pre-1979 Iranian flags.

Speakers and participants said the march aimed to counter the rise of racism and Islamophobia in mainstream politics, citing figures such as Reform leader Nigel Farage and far-right activist Tommy Robinson. Demonstrators described the atmosphere as inclusive and festive, comparing it to the Notting Hill Carnival. Several left-wing politicians, including Jeremy Corbyn, Zarah Sultana, Dianne Abbott, and Andy Burnham, joined the crowds, while Amnesty UK praised the event as a call for dignity, compassion and human rights.

The protest took place amid warnings from the group Hope Not Hate that the British far right is becoming “bigger, bolder and more extreme than ever before.”

London’s Metropolitan Police arrested 18 supporters of Palestine Action on Saturday after announcing a reversal of its earlier decision to halt such arrests. The protesters were detained under terrorism legislation while sitting on the steps of New Scotland Yard holding signs expressing opposition to genocide and support for Palestine Action. The arrests came days after Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the force would resume enforcement because the government’s appeal against a High Court ruling had not yet been resolved.

In February, the High Court ruled that the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was unlawful and disproportionate. However, the government obtained a stay pending appeal, leaving the ban technically in force. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to challenge the ruling, while Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring paused hundreds of related prosecutions until the appeal is heard. Critics argue that the police’s renewed arrests defy the court’s judgment.

The crackdown has drawn international criticism, including from the UN and Amnesty International, which warned that the ban risks criminalising free expression. Defend Our Juries has announced a mass sign-holding protest at Trafalgar Square on April 11 as the government’s appeal proceeds.