Author: Perwez Alam

The UK government has described the espionage sentence handed to a British couple in Iran as “totally unjustifiable”, intensifying diplomatic tensions between London and Tehran. Ministers say they are working urgently to secure their release. The case, centred on allegations of espionage, has drawn sharp criticism from the Foreign Secretary after an Iranian court imposed jail terms on British nationals Lindsay and Craig Foreman. Tehran has accused the couple of spying-related offences, a charge the UK government rejects. The Foreign Secretary said the conviction was “totally unjustifiable” and called for the immediate release of the pair. The development places renewed…

An HSBC banker has been accused of avoiding thousands of pounds in rail costs by exploiting a ticketing loophole, prompting renewed scrutiny of fare enforcement across the UK network. The case has intensified debate over revenue protection and the integrity of Britain’s complex rail pricing system. The HSBC banker train fare case has drawn national attention after reports that a senior finance professional allegedly sidestepped substantial ticket costs by manipulating a booking method within existing rail systems. The incident centres on the use of split ticketing and route variations to reduce the price of frequent commuter journeys. According to court…

A long-established British chocolate manufacturer has entered administration after four decades of trading, placing jobs and future production in doubt. Insolvency specialists have been appointed as the company seeks a buyer amid mounting financial pressures. A prominent UK confectionery business has fallen into chocolate administration after 40 years of operations, marking another setback for Britain’s food manufacturing sector. The firm, known for supplying retailers and independent outlets nationwide, appointed administrators this week following sustained trading difficulties. The move places its workforce at risk and raises fresh questions about the pressures facing mid-sized food producers, from rising energy bills to volatile…

“Ramadan Mubarak” messages are being shared across the UK as Muslim communities begin the holy month of Ramadan 2026. Mosques and charities have confirmed fasting times and community programmes as millions prepare for daily dawn-to-sunset fasting. Ramadan Mubarak greetings have echoed across Britain following confirmation of the start of Ramadan 2026, corresponding to 1447 in the Islamic lunar calendar. Islamic organisations including Islamic Relief UK have marked the beginning of the month with guidance on fasting, prayer and suhoor times, as families prepare for a period of spiritual reflection and charity. Ramadan is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month…

London’s City witnessed a landmark moment in the financial sector on Thursday as the UK’s historic asset manager Schroders agreed to a £9.9 billion takeover by US investment firm Nuveen. The deal, which values Schroders at 612p per share including a dividend, will unite two major fund managers and create one of the world’s largest asset management groups. Schroders, founded in 1804 and one of the oldest names in British finance, saw its share price jump nearly 30 per cent on the announcement. The deal ends more than two centuries of independence and broad family influence over the firm, in…

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the British billionaire and co-owner of Manchester United, has drawn intense political and public scrutiny after claiming that the United Kingdom has been “colonised by immigrants” and that rising immigration has strained the benefits system. In a high-profile interview on Sky News he also suggested that the UK economy contains “nine million people on benefits”, assertions that critics say misrepresent official data and feed divisive narratives. The controversy has sparked responses from political leaders, anti-racism organisations and commentators, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer among those demanding a full apology. This article assesses the facts behind Ratcliffe’s…

Three members of cabin crew working for British Airways were taken to hospital in Los Angeles after unknowingly eating cannabis-infused sweets given to them by a passenger, prompting the airline to launch an internal investigation. The incident happened after a long-haul service from London to Los Angeles. The crew members consumed the sweets after the aircraft had landed and they were travelling to their hotel. Shortly afterwards, they began to feel unwell, reporting symptoms consistent with the effects of high-strength THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. British Airways confirmed the staff members have since recovered and said there was no…

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two pupils were stabbed at Kingsbury High School in northwest London on Tuesday. The injured boys, aged 12 and 13, were taken to hospital where they remain in a serious condition as emergency services continue their investigation into the shocking assault. Incident at School Grounds Police were called to the Kingsbury High School site off Bacon Lane in Brent shortly after 12:40pm on Tuesday following reports that a pupil had been stabbed. When officers arrived, they found a second boy, aged 12, also suffering from stab wounds. Both…

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has publicly called for Keir Starmer to step down as both prime minister and leader of the Labour Party, in what marks one of the most serious internal challenges to Starmer’s authority since the party’s return to government. Speaking at a press conference in Glasgow on 9 February 2026, Sarwar said that leadership under Starmer had become a “huge distraction” and that “too many mistakes” had been made, undermining Labour’s standing ahead of crucial elections. The intervention from Sarwar comes amid a political crisis triggered by revelations about the appointment and subsequent resignation of Peter…

An official inquiry into the deadliest small boat disaster in the English Channel has concluded that at least 30 of the deaths were avoidable, pointing to serious failures in search and rescue coordination on both sides of the water. The tragedy occurred on 24 November 2021, when a fragile inflatable dinghy carrying migrants from France towards the UK began taking on water and sank in cold, busy shipping lanes. Twenty-seven bodies were recovered in the days that followed. Several others were reported missing. Only two people survived. In findings published this week, the inquiry determined that missed opportunities, delayed responses…