United Kingdom
UK to supply Norway with anti-submarine warships
The United Kingdom has struck a UK£10 billion (A$20.61 billion) deal to supply Norway with at least five new anti-submarine warships, as the two countries agree to collaborate on countering Russian activity in Northern Europe. These Type 26 frigates will be built in Scotland by U.K. defence contractor BAE Systems. The deal will support 4,000 jobs across BAE Systems’ Glasgow operations and the UK maritime supply chain until the late 2030s, the UK’s government said. “For over 75 years, Britain and Norway have stood together on NATO’s northern and north-eastern frontiers, keeping the UK and Europe safe. This historic defence deal deepens our strategic partnership,” according to U.K. Defence Secretary John Healey. “With Norway, we will train, operate, deter, and – if necessary – fight together. Our navies will work as one, leading the way in NATO, with this deal putting more world-class warships in the North Atlantic to hunt Russian submarines, protect our critical infrastructure, and keep both our nations secure.” This will be Norway’s largest ever procurement for its armed forces. Delivery of the frigates will begin in 2030. The UK also guaranteed UK£10 billion in industrial cooperation with Norwegian industry, accord
Nigel Farage announces mass deportation plan
Nigel Farage has announced a mass deportation plan for Britain, which would require the reversal of human rights laws. Farage, leader of the U.K.'s far right, anti immigration, Reform party, announced the new plan on Tuesday at a press conference. He outlined a pathway that would see the U.K removed from the European Convention on Human Rights, the Human Rights Act repealed and ending in the mass deportation of asylum seekers. The Reform party said these changes to asylum law would enable them to deport 600,000 asylum seekers, including women and children, in just its first term in power if it wins the next election. "We are not far away from major civil disorder," Farage said. “It is an invasion, as these young men illegally break into our country.”
MI6 British spy agency gets its first female chief
Blaise Metreweli will become the first-ever female chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). The Chief, also known by the codename C, is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Metreweli was appointed as the 18th chief of the organisation and appointed by United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,” he said. “The [U.K] is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services.” As part of her role, Metreweli will have operational responsibility for the MI6 and be accountable to the Foreign Secretary. Metreweli says she was proud and honoured to be appointed to the role. “MI6 plays a vital role - [along] with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said. “I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.” The appointment mirrors on-screen depictions of the agency in James Bond where Judi Dench played the I16 chief for
Cargo vessel, oil tanker collide off England's coast
An oil tanker, carrying jet fuel for the United States military, has collided with a cargo ship off the north coast of England, with one crew member reported missing. Thirty-six people, comprising of the crews from both vessels, were brought ashore after being forced to evacuate with one taken to hospital and one still missing. The incident took place around approximately 10 am UTC (8 pm AEST) and as of 10:30 pm UTC (9:30 am AEST) the coastguard reported that both ships were still on fire.Credit: The BBCThe tanker, the Stena Immaculate, was at anchor when the container ship, Solong, hit it, causing it's Jet-A1 fuel contents to partially spill into the surrounding North Sea, raising concerns from environmental groups. The Solong was also carrying 15 containers of the toxic chemical sodium cyanide. The Stena Immaculate is owned by United States logistics group Crowley, who took to X writing that it would be “supporting the relevant authorities in the UK who are investigating this incident” and deferring to them regarding queries about the cause of the collision.