A geopolitically diverse region spanning West Asia to the fringes of North Africa.
Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election with 12,292 votes to Green leader Zack Polanski's 8,928, taking 45% versus 33%. The result has intensified scrutiny of Polanski after the Green conference motion equating Zionism with racism and his absence from that vote. Polanski has said he will remain party leader.
Counter Terrorism Policing has arrested a man in Westminster and searched a nearby property as part of the ongoing investigation into suspicious activity near RAF Fairford. The probe has already prompted the temporary redeployment of US B-1 bombers and led British authorities to examine possible foreign-state involvement. Six previously arrested men remain on bail.
El Niño is strengthening, triggering floods, heat, and rising seas. Authorities warn of a potentially historic winter as infrastructure is strained and communities prep for extreme weather and food impacts.
Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have faced renewed attacks, with multiple incidents reported near Madinat ash Shamal and Limah. UKMTO says ships have been struck by projectiles; several vessels remain under threat as regional tensions keep shipping routes volatile. Exports through the strait have shown resilience, with data suggesting near pre-war levels.
The UK has borrowed £18.3bn in August, the ONS has reported, topping City and OBR forecasts and leaving year‑to‑date borrowing at £77.3bn — £8.1bn above the OBR projection. Rising gilt yields have pushed debt interest to record August levels and are narrowing Chancellor John Healey’s fiscal headroom ahead of the 28 October Budget.
BBC Eye investigates Gaza’s ceasefire aftermath, showing how families cope amid destroyed infrastructure, medicine shortages, and repeated disruption. The film follows medical workers and civilians across the summer, with new reporting on infections, education disruption, and mental health strain.
Three South Korean footballers have apologised after celebrating military-service exemptions following their Asian Games win over Japan. Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young has said the exemption system for artists and athletes will have to be scaled back, and several politicians and editorials have called for a review of the decades-old rule that replaces full service with short supplementary training for Olympic and Asian Games medallists.
The US has redeployed a dozen B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford back to US bases after British authorities foiled an alleged plot to attack the Gloucestershire airfield. UK officials have said there are "strong indications" of Iranian involvement; Tehran has denied the claim. The withdrawal will reduce the UK-based surge capability for strikes on Iran.
Lenacapavir, branded Yeztugo in the US, has a twice-yearly injection form of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis. Its introduction in parts of the Middle East and North Africa comes with cheaper generics set to be available in 2027, while many countries in the region face barriers to testing and treatment.
Oil markets are adjusting amid renewed attacks near the Strait of Hormuz and coordinated fuel releases by the G7 and IEA. While some shipments resume, the risk to global supply remains elevated as tensions persist and sanctions pressure grows.
The Conservatives have announced Britannia Shield, a 10bn plan to build an integrated radar, control and interceptor missile system to defend Britain from drones and missiles. The package, funded to reach 3% of GDP by 2030, is pitched as a major upgrade to UK air defence. Labour criticises the plan as underfunding and a repeat of past hollowed-out forces.
Ukraine’s grain shipments face mounting obstacles as port and shipping disruptions persist; farmers report unsold stocks and collapsing domestic prices, while lenders note liquidity pressure. EU considerations on market access for Kyiv intensify the debate over how to move trade and sustain next-season planting.
Izmir’s CHP mayor Cemil Tugay has joined Erdogan’s AKP in a ceremony in Ankara. The move grants the AKP control of a city historically governed by the opposition. Protests occurred in Izmir with police barriers at Cumhuriyet Square as opposition figures denounced the defection. The mayor’s exit follows a crackdown on opposition figures and a broader realignment within Turkish politics.
The USS Abraham Lincoln has returned to San Diego after a months-long deployment diverted from a Pacific return to support operations against Iran. Sailors faced food shortages, mental-health strain, and extended sea duty, while officials defend the mission amid public scrutiny and rising domestic concerns.
Palestinian prisoner rights groups say abuses inside Israeli facilities have intensified over three years of war, with hundreds of prisoners dead and thousands more detained under harsh conditions. Families face limited information and increasing use of video hearings, while activists urge international accountability.
World leaders including Vladimir Putin have reinforced ties with Iran as they prepare for the CIS summit in Avaza, Turkmenistan. Moscow says it is ready to help end the conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, while Tehran is seeking to expand military and diplomatic cooperation amid Western pressure.