US President Donald Trump has criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing to assist Israel in conducting airstrikes on Iran. Trump said the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is no longer what it used to be. His remarks came after the UK declined to allow its bases to be used for the operation.

Earlier, Starmer had sharply criticized Trump’s actions in Iran, stating that the United Kingdom does not believe in changing a country’s regime through aerial attacks. He defended his decision not to permit the use of British bases for such strikes. However, Starmer clarified that the UK would allow its bases to be used to protect allied forces and its own troops in the Gulf and Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict.

In an interview with The Sun, Trump expressed disappointment, saying he never expected such a stance from the UK. He added that the world has changed and that the bilateral relationship now feels different and diminished.

The United Kingdom is sending charter flights to rescue British citizens stranded in various Middle Eastern countries amid the ongoing war. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the House of Commons that a government charter flight will depart from Muscat, Oman, for the UK within the next few days. The initiative aims to assist citizens unable to leave the region due to the conflict.

The UK government has launched a new registration process to identify how many British nationals are currently in Middle Eastern countries. According to the BBC, by Tuesday morning, about 130,000 British citizens had registered through this system. Cooper stated that those in 'vulnerable' conditions will be given priority for evacuation on the charter flights.

The move reflects the UK’s effort to ensure the safety of its nationals as instability spreads across the region, though details about the specific countries affected were not disclosed.

The United Kingdom is considering sending a warship to the Mediterranean following a drone attack on its military base in Cyprus. According to defense sources cited by the BBC, the Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan has been kept ready for possible deployment, though no final decision has yet been made.

The reported attack targeted a British military installation in Cyprus, prompting London to evaluate its security posture in the region. The move reflects heightened concern over regional stability and the safety of British forces stationed abroad.

While the UK has not confirmed when or if the deployment will occur, the preparation of HMS Duncan indicates that the government is maintaining readiness for potential escalation or deterrence operations in the Mediterranean.

In the UK House of Commons, British lawmaker Edward Jonathan Davey sharply criticized US President Donald Trump for what he described as an illegal and unilateral attack on Iran. Davey said the assault violated international law and placed responsibility squarely on Trump, warning that it endangered Middle East stability and increased risks to civilian lives.

While also condemning actions by the Iranian government, Davey cautioned that military escalation could heighten tensions and civilian casualties. He emphasized the need for accountability and restraint in any military response. His remarks came during a parliamentary session in which Prime Minister Keir Starmer was delivering a statement on the Iran situation.

Davey further urged the UK government to act with caution and strengthen coordination with the United States. Analysts noted that the debate could complicate diplomatic relations between the UK and the US, as well as intensify disputes over international law and regional stability.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has condemned the attack on a British military base in Cyprus, describing Iran’s recent assaults on Gulf and other nations as reckless and unjustified. In an interview with the BBC, she stated that those countries targeted by Iran were not involved in any attacks against it. Cooper also clarified that the United Kingdom itself was not involved in any strikes on Iran.

Although British aircraft did not participate in the attacks, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK would allow the United States to use British bases for defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites. When asked about the source of the attack on the Akrotiri base, Cooper said she did not yet have full information but that the ministry would release further details as soon as possible.

The incident follows reports that two drones heading toward the UK base in Cyprus were shot down, amid rising regional tensions involving Iran, Hezbollah, and other actors.

The United Kingdom is preparing to evacuate its citizens from the Middle East, according to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper. She stated that around 300,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region. Cooper told Sky News that the government is considering a wide range of options, including working with the travel industry and, if necessary, organizing official evacuation operations.

Cooper added that the British government hopes to see airspace reopen soon. In coordination with the travel sector, rapid deployment teams will be sent to ensure the safe removal of citizens. The statement comes as the UK monitors developments in the region and seeks to maintain readiness for potential emergency responses.

The move reflects growing concern over safety conditions in the Middle East, where recent incidents have heightened security risks for foreign nationals, prompting London to prepare contingency measures for its citizens.

The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence confirmed that a suspected drone attack targeted an RAF base in Cyprus on Sunday night. The incident occurred at RAF Akrotiri, one of Britain’s key military installations on the island. Authorities reported no casualties from the attack and stated that security measures at the base remain at the highest level, with personnel responding immediately to the threat.

The attack came amid heightened regional instability following the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike. UK Defence Secretary John Healy said indiscriminate retaliatory attacks by Iran have increased risks for British troops and civilians across the Middle East. The Ministry of Defence emphasized its commitment to protecting its forces and maintaining operational readiness in the region.

The situation underscores growing security concerns for Western military assets in the eastern Mediterranean as tensions escalate between Iran and Western allies.

Arsenal defeated Chelsea 2-1 in a high-voltage English Premier League match, extending their lead at the top of the table. Under coach Mikel Arteta, the Gunners maintained strong form as Manchester United also claimed a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, Manchester City edged Leeds United 1-0 away, with Antoine Semenyo scoring the decisive goal.

City’s win came just before halftime when Ryan Aït-Nouri’s pass found Semenyo, who finished neatly to beat the goalkeeper. The result marked City’s fourth consecutive league victory, narrowing the gap with leaders Arsenal. After 28 matches, City hold 59 points from 18 wins and five draws, trailing Arsenal by two points.

In other European action, Bayern Munich beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in the Bundesliga thanks to two goals from Harry Kane, while Paris Saint-Germain defeated Le Havre 1-0 in Ligue 1.

The United Kingdom has granted the United States permission to use British military bases for operations targeting Iran’s missile systems. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the decision in a video message on Monday, clarifying that the UK will not take part directly in the war. He said the move follows requests from allied nations in the Gulf region for stronger British involvement in their defense.

Starmer stated that British warplanes are already participating in joint air defense missions and have intercepted several Iranian missile attacks. He emphasized that neutralizing the threat requires destroying the missiles at their source, including Iranian storage sites and launchers. The United States requested access to British bases for what it described as “specific and limited defensive purposes,” and the UK government accepted the request to prevent further Iranian attacks that could endanger civilians and British nationals.

The announcement comes amid escalating tensions in the Gulf, including recent missile strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and attacks on oil tankers near Oman.

The United Kingdom’s Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory urging British citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The advisory, announced through a post on social media platform X, specifies that only emergency travel should be undertaken to these Gulf countries.

The post further instructs British nationals currently residing in those countries to register their presence and seek shelter where possible. The advisory comes amid heightened regional tensions, though the statement itself does not specify the reasons behind the warning or any particular incidents prompting it.

The notice underscores the UK government’s caution toward the security environment in the Gulf region, advising citizens to remain alert and follow official updates from the Foreign Office.

The BBC has reported that the United Kingdom is not participating in the joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran. In response to the escalating situation in the Middle East, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called an emergency meeting of the government’s security-focused COBRA committee on Saturday, which he is expected to chair.

According to the report, London has expressed concern that the attack in Iran could trigger a wider regional conflict. A spokesperson for the British government stated that the UK does not want the conflict to expand into a broader regional war. The spokesperson also emphasized that ensuring the safety of British citizens in the region remains the government’s immediate priority.

The developments come amid heightened tensions following missile and drone attacks between Iran and Israel, raising fears of further instability across the Middle East.

The East India Company, once the foundation of British colonial rule in India, has permanently closed after declaring bankruptcy. The company, which had been revived in London as a luxury goods brand, failed to overcome financial difficulties and ceased operations. Reports indicate that in October 2025, a liquidator was appointed, and the company owed more than £600,000 to its parent entity registered in the British Virgin Islands, along with significant tax and employee liabilities. Its Mayfair store and website have since been closed.

The company, originally founded in 1600 under a royal charter from Queen Elizabeth I, had dominated trade across India and Asia before being dissolved by the British Parliament in 1874. Indian entrepreneur Sanjiv Mehta had purchased the rights to the company’s name in 2010, relaunching it as a retailer of premium tea, chocolate, and spices. The revival had drawn global attention as a symbolic reversal of colonial history.

The closure marks the end of a modern chapter for a name long associated with both global trade innovation and colonial exploitation.

Russia has returned the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers to Ukraine, according to a Moscow official cited on Thursday. In exchange, Ukraine handed over the remains of 35 Russian soldiers. The exchange reportedly took place near Kyiv, as confirmed by Russian mediator Vladimir Medinsky in a social media post.

The report, carried by AFP from Moscow, marks another instance of body repatriation between the two sides amid the ongoing conflict. Such exchanges are typically coordinated through intermediaries to ensure the return of fallen soldiers to their respective countries.

No further details were provided about the process or the conditions under which the exchange occurred.

Russia carried out overnight attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities, injuring at least 23 people including a child. The strikes occurred ahead of a scheduled meeting in Geneva between Ukraine and the United States to discuss ending the ongoing war. Kyiv’s military administration chief Tymur Tkachenkо reported that drones and ballistic missiles were used in the assault, urging residents to remain in shelters until air raid alerts were lifted.

Police in Kyiv said the attacks caused fires in non-residential buildings, shattered windows in a multi-story apartment, and set a two-story house ablaze. No deaths were reported. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv and a nearby village, 14 people were injured, while seven others were hurt in Zaporizhzhia where 19 apartment buildings, four houses, and other structures were damaged. Two more people were injured in Kryvyi Rih.

The assault comes as the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago, continues to devastate Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions. Washington has reiterated its desire for an end to the conflict.

Cambridge University has invested over £140 million from its £4.2 billion endowment fund into a portfolio that includes companies accused of involvement in Israeli human rights violations in Gaza. The revelation came after analysis of recent filings submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, reported by Middle East Eye. The investment was made by Cambridge University Investment Management in the ‘iShares ESG Select Screened S&P 500’ fund during the last quarter of the previous year.

Through this fund, the university indirectly holds shares in Palantir Technologies, Caterpillar, and GE Aerospace—companies accused of aiding Israeli military operations and forced evictions in Palestinian territories. Cambridge reportedly owns about £800,000 in Palantir shares and £900,000 in GE Aerospace shares, linking it to suppliers of Israeli defense technology and aircraft engines. The disclosure follows earlier criticism of the university’s lack of transparency and its delayed decisions on divesting from arms manufacturers.

The report noted growing ethical and legal pressure on Cambridge, especially as Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has already divested from Caterpillar over similar human rights concerns.