News 09/04/26

The defence secretary says there has been increased Russian activity in the Atlantic north of the UK.

John Healey told a Downing Street briefing that an Akula class attack submarine and two specialist submarines linked to Russia’s deep sea research directorate have been detected. He also referred to the detection of the Russian Yantar spy ship last November. Mr Healey said the vessels had been directed by President Vladimir Putin to carry out hybrid warfare activities targeting the UK and its allies, particularly critical undersea infrastructure. [Pause(1)]

A British man has been charged with directing the activities of the Somalia based Islamist group Al Shabaab.

Jermaine Grant, aged forty three, is also accused of attending a commando training camp in the southern port city of Kismayu and possessing an AK47 rifle for terrorist purposes. Prosecutors say the charges relate to alleged involvement with the group in two thousand and eight and two thousand and nine. Counter Terrorism Policing said the case follows a long running investigation and described the allegations as serious.

Four people have died after attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat, French authorities have confirmed.

The incident occurred around 7am local time in Équihen‑Plage, near Boulogne. It is the latest fatal accident in the Channel, following the deaths of two people just eight days ago. Rescue teams continue to warn of the dangers posed by small vessels attempting the crossing.

The foreign secretary has said she is deeply troubled by Israeli attacks on Lebanon and wants the country included in the ceasefire agreement.

The US and Iran have agreed a two-week truce, but Israel says Lebanon is not covered and has escalated its attacks. Yvette Cooper said she is concerned about the humanitarian impact, including mass displacement, and urged that the ceasefire be extended to Lebanon.

Donald Trump has said US forces will remain in the Middle East and warned that if no agreement is reached with Iran, the shooting will start, bigger and stronger than ever before.

In a post on Truth Social, he described the military presence as appropriate and necessary for the destruction of what he called an already substantially degraded enemy. He ended the message by saying the United States is loading up and looking forward to its next conquest.

More than twenty thousand students have been told they were wrongly given maintenance loans and grants and must repay the money.

The affected students are all on weekend courses and received letters from the Student Loans Company or their university saying their courses were never eligible. One letter said the university provided incorrect information and failed to say the student only attended at weekends. It added any overpayment would need to be repaid.

Plans to replace cladding removed after a major fire at an eight storey block in Slough High Street have been approved.

The blaze broke out just after midnight in August twenty twenty four at a top floor flat in Mosaic House. Part of the building had been fitted with the same flammable aluminium composite material used at Grenfell Tower. The cladding was fully removed last year, but further remediation work is still required.

Global oil prices have risen in Asian trading as investors monitor developments in the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

The two week agreement has been tested after Israel carried out strikes in Lebanon, prompting warnings from Tehran. Prices had fallen after the ceasefire announcement, which included reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but traffic through the route has been disrupted by Iranian threats against vessels.

A woman known as the Ketamine Queen has been jailed for fifteen years for selling drugs linked to the death of actor Matthew Perry.

Jasveen Sangha admitted supplying ketamine, and prosecutors said her home funded a lavish lifestyle. Perry was found dead in his Los Angeles home, with investigators saying ketamine caused his death.