Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the right to protest in the United Kingdom has been severely restricted in recent years, with state control over peaceful demonstrators intensifying. The warning came through HRW’s report titled “Silencing the Streets: The Right to Protest Under Attack in the UK,” released in London and reported by AFP. The report noted that the UK is adopting strategies similar to countries where democratic safeguards and civil liberties are gradually eroding. Shortly after the report’s release, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained and later released during a protest supporting the banned Palestine Action group.

Based on research from 2024 and 2025, HRW found that increasing numbers of people are being arrested, prosecuted, and even imprisoned for participating in peaceful demonstrations or attending planning meetings. The organization criticized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government for failing to repeal restrictive protest laws introduced by the previous Conservative administration in 2023. HRW’s UK director Yasmin Ahmed said the government’s tough stance on law and order was alarming and warned that such laws could be used against anyone in the future.

HRW urged the government to lift certain restrictions on protests and revoke the ban on Palestine Action, noting that at least 2,300 people have been arrested since the group was outlawed in July.

The UK Met Office has issued a nationwide red alert warning for extreme weather conditions, citing the risk of severe storms, heavy rainfall, and widespread snowfall. The alert, effective from Wednesday afternoon, warns that the situation poses a serious threat to public safety. Forecasts indicate wind speeds could reach 90 to 100 miles per hour, with up to one foot of snow expected in hilly and elevated areas. The most affected regions are expected to include southwest England, Wales, the Midlands, and parts of northern England.

Coastal areas face the possibility of storm surges and large waves, while strong winds could cause trees to fall and damage power lines and roofs, leading to potential power outages. Heavy rain may trigger flash floods and waterlogging, and icy roads could severely disrupt rail, bus, and air transport.

Authorities have advised residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary, urging coastal communities to remain alert for tidal surges and to take extra care of the elderly and children.

The United Kingdom has assisted the United States in seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker named ‘Bela-1’ in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Britain and Iceland. The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force supported the US operation at Washington’s request. The tanker, recently renamed ‘Marinera,’ was reportedly under US sanctions and had previously evaded capture near Venezuela. Russia has strongly protested the seizure.

According to the British Defence Ministry, the operation was conducted in accordance with international law. The ministry stated that the vessel had used a false flag and was linked to international terrorism and criminal networks, including alleged ties to the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. The tanker had turned off its tracking systems and attempted to change its flag during the pursuit.

Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK would continue to act against “shadow fleets” that threaten global stability. He clarified that no British troops boarded the vessel and praised US forces for their professionalism despite adverse weather. Britain also allowed the US to use its military bases for the operation.

The United Kingdom has asked for clarification from the United States after President Donald Trump said Washington would oversee Venezuela’s government following the arrest of Nicolás Maduro. Trump made the remarks on Saturday during a press conference in Florida, where he stated that the U.S. would manage the country until a safe and fair transfer of power could be ensured. Senior U.S. officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were present at the event.

Speaking to Sky News, UK Treasury Chief Secretary Darren Jones said it was unclear what Trump meant by saying Washington would “run” Venezuela’s government. Jones emphasized that Britain does not support colonialism and that determining Venezuela’s political future is not the role of any third country. He declined to comment on whether U.S. actions violated international law, saying that was a matter for international courts.

The UK’s request for clarity highlights growing international concern over the implications of U.S. involvement in Venezuela’s transitional governance following Maduro’s detention.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on all nations to abide by international law following US President Donald Trump’s announcement that American forces had conducted a large-scale operation to detain Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. Speaking from London, Starmer described the situation as rapidly evolving and clarified that the United Kingdom had no involvement in the operation. He urged patience until the full facts of the incident are verified.

The report noted that the UK has not yet recognized the results of Venezuela’s disputed 2024 election, in which Maduro secured a third term. London has consistently supported a peaceful and negotiated transfer of power in the country, maintaining its stance on democratic processes and stability in Venezuela.

Starmer’s remarks reflect the UK’s cautious diplomatic approach as global attention turns to the unfolding developments in Venezuela and their potential implications for international relations.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the United Kingdom was not involved in the United States’ recent military operation in Venezuela. The operation, conducted on Saturday, included bombings on several infrastructures and the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by US forces. Speaking to British journalists, Starmer clarified that he had not yet spoken with US President Donald Trump regarding Maduro’s detention.

Starmer emphasized that the UK had no role in the operation and reiterated that Britain should adhere to international law. When asked whether he would condemn the US action in Venezuela, he said he would first speak with President Trump before making any further comment.

The statement comes amid heightened international attention following the US military intervention and the detention of Maduro, with the UK seeking to distance itself from the operation while maintaining diplomatic engagement with Washington.

The UK Met Office has confirmed that 2025 was the warmest and one of the sunniest years in the country's recorded history. According to the agency, the record reflects the clear impact of human-induced climate change. Based on data dating back to 1884, 2025 now ranks among the top three warmest years alongside 2022 and 2023, with an average annual temperature of 10.09 degrees Celsius. It was only the second time the UK’s annual average temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius, the first being in 2022.

The Met Office noted that four of the five warmest years since 1884 have occurred within the past five years, and all ten warmest years have been recorded in the last two decades. In addition to temperature, 2025 also set a new record for sunshine, with 1,648.5 hours of sunlight—the highest since records began in 1910 and 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.

Mark McCarthy, head of the Met Office’s climate attribution division, said the findings align with expectations from human-driven climate change and that global warming continues to influence the UK’s climate.

Khalistan supporters disrupted a protest organized by Hindutva activists outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Saturday. The protest had been arranged in response to reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. During the demonstration, the Khalistani group chanted anti-India slogans and displayed their flags, effectively halting the event. A brief scuffle occurred between Paramjit Singh Pamma, coordinator of the Khalistan Referendum campaign, and an Indian Hindu protester.

Metropolitan Police officers quickly intervened, separating the individuals involved and dispersing both groups from the area surrounding the mission building. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Manu Khajuria of the UK Insight Group described the actions of the Khalistani extremists as surprising, saying they attempted to silence voices advocating for minority rights and harmony.

Tension erupted outside the Bangladesh High Commission in London on Sunday during a protest organized to express solidarity with minorities. The demonstration saw a confrontation between pro-Khalistan Sikh activists from ‘Sikhs for Justice’ and supporters of British Indian Hindu groups aligned with India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The protest, centered on allegations of killings of Hindus in Bangladesh, turned heated as both sides exchanged slogans and shoves before Metropolitan Police intervened to separate them and restore order.

During the protest, pro-Khalistan participants displayed flags and chanted anti-India slogans, accusing the Indian government of involvement in the deaths of Sikh leaders. Prominent Sikh activist Paramjit Singh Pamma, coordinator of the Khalistan Referendum campaign, confronted Hindu demonstrators and later claimed that India persecutes Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians while attempting to deflect human rights criticism toward Bangladesh. Indian security agencies list Pamma as a “most wanted terrorist,” though he maintains that no British court has convicted him or acted on any Indian extradition request.

The incident occurred amid strained India-Bangladesh relations following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and recent violent incidents in Dhaka involving Hindu and student victims.

Posters declaring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'wanted' have appeared across London’s buses, streets, and busy public areas. According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Sunday, pro-Palestinian groups in the United Kingdom organized the campaign. The posters highlight Netanyahu’s alleged role in war crimes and genocide in Gaza and reference an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024.

The ICC warrant was issued over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip. The report states that Israeli military operations over the past two years have killed more than 71,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. Despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, Israeli attacks reportedly continued.

The campaign reflects ongoing international criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza and renewed calls for accountability following the ICC’s legal move against Netanyahu.

The United Kingdom has imposed visa restrictions on the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing the country's refusal to take back illegal migrants and criminal offenders. The British Home Office announced the decision in a statement issued on Saturday night, noting that the move follows Congo’s failure to meet cooperation requirements. Under the new restrictions, fast-track visa services for Congolese citizens will be suspended, and VIPs and politicians from Congo will no longer receive priority services.

The Home Office said the measure marks the first major change under Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s recently launched immigration reform program, which aims to make refugee status temporary and accelerate the deportation of undocumented migrants. The statement also mentioned that Angola and Namibia have agreed to strengthen efforts to repatriate their citizens, though none of the three countries immediately commented on the issue.

Mahmood warned that if Congo does not improve cooperation, the UK could impose a complete visa ban. She thanked Angola and Namibia for their collaboration and urged Congo to act responsibly by repatriating its nationals.

Swedish climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London on December 23 after joining a pro-Palestinian demonstration organized by Palestine Action. The protest took place outside Aspen Insurance’s office, where Thunberg was seen holding a placard expressing solidarity with imprisoned activists and opposing what she described as genocide.

London City Police confirmed that a 22-year-old woman was detained for displaying material supporting a banned organization, though they did not name Thunberg directly. The UK government outlawed Palestine Action in July 2025, citing its involvement in disruptive protests targeting companies linked to Israel. Since the ban, hundreds of demonstrators have reportedly been arrested under similar charges.

Thunberg’s detention adds to her growing record of civil disobedience in environmental and human rights causes. The incident is expected to reignite debate over the UK’s protest laws and their impact on freedom of expression, especially in politically sensitive contexts involving international conflicts.

Manchester City reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a commanding 3–0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland scored twice, in the 5th and 69th minutes, while Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders added another to seal the win. City controlled 66% of possession, registering 17 shots with eight on target, reflecting their attacking dominance under Pep Guardiola.

The match marked another milestone for Haaland, who surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s Premier League goal tally, reaching 104 goals—one more than Ronaldo’s 103—despite playing 122 fewer matches. The Norwegian striker also reached 200 goal contributions across Europe’s top five leagues, combining 166 goals and 35 assists. His season total now stands at 19 goals.

With this win, City moved to 37 points from 17 matches, one ahead of Arsenal, who have a game in hand. West Ham’s struggles continued under Nuno Espírito Santo, losing 10 of their 17 league fixtures so far.

A large digital billboard campaign in central London has drawn attention for accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group accused of atrocities during the Sudanese civil war. The campaign, organized by U.S.-based nonprofit Avaaz, uses AI-generated imagery showing a woman taking a selfie in Dubai, juxtaposed with war-torn Sudan in the reflection, carrying the caption: “Your selfie won’t look so good if you knew what they’re doing in Sudan.”

The billboard, projected on a moving van and looping every 80 seconds, includes a QR code linking to investigative reports from outlets such as *Middle East Eye*, *The Guardian*, and *The New York Times*. Passersby in London expressed surprise at the UAE’s alleged involvement, with some saying the campaign changed their perception of Dubai. The UAE has denied arming the RSF, calling related media reports fabricated, but analysts cite flight data, weapons serial numbers, and diplomatic sources suggesting ongoing Emirati support.

The campaign underscores growing international scrutiny of the UAE’s regional military activities and its potential implications for diplomatic relations with Western allies.

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has apologized to his teammates following controversial comments he made after being dropped from the squad earlier this month. The Egyptian star had publicly criticized the club and head coach Arne Slot after a 1–1 draw with Leeds United on December 6, expressing frustration over being blamed for the team’s poor start to the season and uncertainty about his future at Anfield.

Midfielder Curtis Jones confirmed Salah’s apology in an interview with Sky Sports, saying the 33-year-old spoke to the entire squad to express regret if his words had hurt anyone. Jones emphasized that the dressing room remains united and that Salah’s gesture reflected his character and leadership.

The incident comes amid Liverpool’s efforts to stabilize their Premier League campaign under new management. Salah’s apology is seen as a positive step toward maintaining team cohesion as the club seeks to recover form and address internal challenges in the second half of the season.