Mark Bonwick, 62, who served as Arsenal’s kitman for 22 years, claims he was dismissed after criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. He said he was fired following a December 2024 social media post condemning Israel’s military operations. In an interview with Anadolu Agency, Bonwick stated that his remarks were political expressions, not hate speech or discrimination. He is now pursuing legal action against the club, with mediation expected in June and the process possibly extending to 2028.

Bonwick argued that his comments were part of a broader call to speak out against injustice, comparing them to global discussions on apartheid in South Africa and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He accused the media of emphasizing antisemitism allegations instead of the political context of his statements. Bonwick insisted there was no antisemitic content in his post and noted that neither police nor the Football Association had contacted him.

He cited the case of Bristol University academic David Miller, arguing that the same standards of free political expression should apply to everyone, regardless of profession.

The British Museum has removed the term 'Palestine' from its ancient Middle East exhibition, triggering strong criticism from academics and rights activists. According to The Telegraph, the change followed a letter from the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which argued that labeling the eastern Mediterranean coast as 'Palestine' and describing the Hyksos people as 'of Palestinian descent' obscured the history of Israel and the Kingdom of Judah. The museum replaced those labels with 'Canaan' and 'Canaanite descent'.

A museum spokesperson said the decision was not made in response to any specific complaint, explaining that 'Palestine' was not a geographically accurate term for that period and that the museum uses United Nations terminology for modern maps. However, scholars speaking to Middle East Eye argued that 'ancient Palestine' is historically accurate for the region. Marcella Ward, a lecturer in Classical Studies at the Open University, said denying the term amounts to historical distortion. Advocacy groups also accused the museum of rewriting history and erasing Palestinian identity.

The pro-Palestinian campaign group Energy Embargo for Palestine accused the museum of hypocrisy, alleging it collected Palestinian artifacts while now attempting to erase Palestine and its people from historical narratives.

Former Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko was detained while allegedly trying to leave the country, according to a statement from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). Authorities said his arrest is part of the ongoing 'Midas case,' a broad investigation into corruption within Ukraine’s energy sector. The bureau stated that the detention is linked to allegations of large-scale embezzlement and illicit enrichment.

The report notes that Galushchenko, a close ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky, was accused in September 2025 of illegally earning and transferring abroad about 100 million dollars. The scandal previously triggered a political crisis, leading both the sitting and former energy ministers to resign at Zelensky’s request, though both denied wrongdoing. Investigators claim the misappropriated funds came through state enterprises, including Energoatom, which operates Ukraine’s nuclear power plants.

Preliminary investigations remain ongoing, focusing on how funds intended for strengthening the security of critical energy facilities were allegedly diverted.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused the United States of pressuring Kyiv, rather than Moscow, to make concessions in ongoing peace negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, he said sustainable peace requires concrete and long-term security guarantees for Ukraine, not just compromises. A trilateral meeting in Geneva, mediated by US President Donald Trump, is scheduled for next week, which Zelensky views with cautious optimism but also frustration over the negotiation format.

Zelensky criticized the absence of European nations from the talks, calling it a major mistake that could hinder prospects for ending the war. One of the most contentious issues remains Russia’s demand for Ukrainian troop withdrawal from the Donetsk region. Kyiv refuses unilateral withdrawal and seeks at least 20 years of Western security guarantees, while the US has proposed 15 years. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to oppose any foreign troop presence in Ukraine.

Zelensky also called for a national referendum before any peace deal, alongside nationwide elections, a ceasefire monitoring mission, and prisoner exchanges. He said Russia holds about 7,000 Ukrainian soldiers, while Ukraine detains around 4,000 Russian troops.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'slave of war' during his speech at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday. He said Putin may see himself as a Russian emperor but is bound by war. Zelensky stated that every power plant in Ukraine has suffered major damage from Russian attacks and warned that granting territorial concessions to Moscow would only fuel further aggression.

Drawing a parallel to the 1938 Munich Agreement, Zelensky cautioned that appeasing Putin would not bring peace, likening the situation to European powers’ concessions to Hitler before World War II. He made these remarks just days before the fourth anniversary of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, accusing Russia of killing thousands, destroying eastern Ukraine, and forcing millions to flee.

Zelensky reiterated Kyiv’s call for Western nations to expedite air defense supplies to Ukraine, emphasizing that his government is doing everything possible to end the war. Kyiv and its Western allies have accused Moscow of deliberately targeting Ukraine’s power grid to inflict suffering during the harsh winter.

The London High Court has ruled that the UK government’s decision to ban the pro-Palestinian organization Palestine Action Group as a terrorist group was unlawful. The verdict, delivered on Friday, followed a legal challenge by the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori, who described the ruling as a major victory for the organization. The group had been banned in July of the previous year for taking direct action against Israel-linked defense companies, including blocking entrances and spraying red paint on facilities.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, saying she disagreed with the view that the ban was disproportionate. The British government announced it would appeal the ruling. The court stated that the ban would remain in effect until the appeal process is completed, noting that the prohibition represented a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression and assembly.

London police confirmed that despite the court’s ruling, the ban remains in force, and supporting the group’s activities continues to be a criminal offense. A hearing on whether the government can proceed with its appeal is scheduled for February 20.

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.