Author: James Carter

Donald Trump has pushed back sharply against claims that Israel dragged the United States into war with Iran, insisting in his first public comments to the press since the weekend operation that it was he who may have driven events — not the other way around. Asked directly whether Israel had pulled America into the conflict, Trump said: “No, I might have forced their hand.” He explained that during ongoing negotiations with Iran he had become convinced Tehran was preparing to strike first. “We were having negotiations with these lunatics, and it was my opinion that they were going to…

Donald Trump has publicly declared his dissatisfaction with Britain’s handling of the Iran conflict, delivering a pointed rebuke to Sir Keir Starmer by invoking the memory of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill in an unfavourable comparison. The US President said bluntly: “I am not happy with the UK,” before adding: “This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.” The remarks represent one of the most direct criticisms Trump has directed at the British government since the outbreak of hostilities with Iran, and land at a particularly sensitive moment for Starmer, who has faced mounting pressure at home over his approach…

Pakistan is facing the prospect of a UK visa ban after government figures revealed that only a fraction of failed Pakistani asylum seekers were successfully returned to the country last year, with the Home Secretary now issuing a direct warning to Islamabad to cooperate or face consequences. Of the 10,638 asylum claims lodged by Pakistani nationals in the UK last year — more than from any other single country, and double the figure recorded in 2023 — just 4.1 per cent were returned, according to Home Office data. The total number of Pakistani asylum seekers now accounts for one in…

Senior Russian official Dmitry Medvedev has issued one of Moscow’s starkest warnings yet over the escalating Middle East conflict, cautioning that a third world war could erupt at any moment and that any nuclear exchange it produced would dwarf the atomic bombings of Japan in 1945. Medvedev, who serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s security council and is a close ally of Vladimir Putin, made the remarks in an interview with state news agency TASS, in which he also accused US President Donald Trump of making a “gross mistake” by authorising strikes on Iran. “By his decision, he put all…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing scrutiny over her repeated association with a Leeds community figure who has been accused of sharing conspiracy theory videos about the September 11 attacks and appearing alongside individuals with alleged extremist links. Arshad Khatana, vice-chairman of Leeds Council of Mosques and a member of the Jamia Masjid Ghousia in Armley, is said to have been photographed with Reeves on at least two dozen occasions, including at his Yorkshire home, according to Reform UK’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick. The controversy centres on a number of posts and associations linked to Khatana. In 2019, he shared a…

Britain’s asylum system is set to undergo one of its most significant structural changes in decades, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirming that refugee protection will no longer be granted on a permanent basis for those who claim asylum from today. Under the new framework, adults and accompanied children granted asylum will receive an initial 30-month period of protection, after which their circumstances will be formally reviewed. Those who continue to face genuine danger in their country of origin will have their protection renewed. However, refugees whose home nations are subsequently deemed safe will be expected to return. Mahmood framed…

British financial markets opened sharply lower on Monday morning as the outbreak of war in Iran sent shockwaves through global trading, driving down the pound, airline stocks and banking shares while pushing oil prices and defence stocks significantly higher. The FTSE 100 fell 0.9 per cent to 10,810.50 within minutes of the 8am open, pulling back from Friday’s record close of 10,910.55. By 8.14am, sterling had also weakened, dropping 0.94 per cent against the US dollar to trade at 1.3354. The sell-off follows Saturday’s outbreak of hostilities after Israeli and US forces carried out strikes on Iran under what has…

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have been shown a photograph of a body claimed to be Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Israeli officials stating he was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes on his compound. Public broadcaster Kan reported: “Senior Israeli officials were informed of Khamenei’s elimination. His body was recovered from the rubble of his compound.” Channel 12 stated: “A photo of the body was shown to Netanyahu and Trump.” There has been no confirmation of Khamenei’s death from Tehran. Iranian authorities have not responded to the Israeli claims or released any statement regarding the Supreme Leader’s status. Netanyahu…

Sir Keir Starmer has joined French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in condemning Iran’s retaliatory strikes “in the strongest terms” whilst urging against further escalation after Britain played no role in US-Israeli attacks on Tehran. The three leaders issued a joint statement declaring: “Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution. Ultimately, the Iranian people must be allowed to determine their future.” The statement followed a Downing Street emergency Cobra meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, with the UN Security Council also scheduled to meet later today. The…

Keir Starmer has insisted he will “fight on” following Labour’s catastrophic defeat to the Greens in Gorton & Denton, as Angela Rayner demanded the party become “braver” in a call for change that stopped short of urging him to quit immediately. The Prime Minister played down the loss as a “disappointing” setback for a government in “mid-term” when asked on a London visit if he had contemplated resigning. He stated: “I will keep on fighting for those people for as long as I’ve got breath in my body. I will also fight against the extremes in politics on the Right…