28 h. ago UK launched huge operation to find suspected Russian double agent in MI6

Exclusive: Operation Wedlock lasted up to 20 years and took MI5 teams across world amid panic about ‘another Philby’Britain’s spy chiefs were forced to launch one of the most sensitive and risky investigations since the cold war over fears a senior officer at the foreign intelligence service MI6 was a double agent for Russia.The extensive hunt for the alleged mole, called Operation Wedlock, was run by MI6’s sister agency, MI5, which deployed a team of up to 35 surveillance, planning and desk officers, who travelled across the world. Continue reading...

Politics

28 h. ago I visited Turkey for the first time and was blown away — one thing left me baffled

Turkey has always been a holiday spot I consciously avoided - I'd heard a number of negative things and I suppose those just stuck with me.

Politics

31 h. ago Holiday hotspot announces ban and 15 strict rules with fines of up to £1,500

The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to UK travellers in light of the ban

Economics

46 h. ago Foreign Office statement after mum gets Turkey travel ban over 'drunken mistake' during trip for boyfriend's new teeth

Georgia Harrison from Rochdale was arrested while travelling to the airport to fly back home to Manchester

Politics

51 h. ago US state department told to terminate nearly all its overseas pro

Exclusive: All but two of the programs awarded under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor would be cut, affecting nearly $1.3bn in grantsThe US state department has been advised to terminate grants to nearly all remaining programs awarded under the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (DRL), which would effectively end the department’s role in funding pro-democracy programming in some of the world’s most hostile totalitarian nations.The review could affect nearly $1.3bn in grants, three state department officials told the Guardian, citing briefings on the results of a Foreign Assistance Review produced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago US government role to be excluded in review into Harry Dunn’s death

Commons review into handling of motorcyclist’s death will not scrutinise actions of US authoritiesA parliamentary review into how the UK’s Foreign Office handled the death of the teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn will not include scrutiny of the role or actions of the US government, it is understood. The 19-year-old’s family met senior officials at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Wednesday where they were told the probe will be led by former chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers. The review is expected to examine the support the FCDO offered the Dunn family after Harry was killed by a former US state department employee in a road crash in 2019 in Northamptonshire, the PA news agency reported. The American driver, Anne Sacoolas, had diplomatic immunity asserted on her behalf after the incident outside RAF Croughton before a senior Foreign Office official said they should “feel able” to put her on the next flight home. PA understands the review, which is sche...

Politics

66 h. ago Brit stuck in Turkey 'can't come home' despite £10k offer to lift 'mistake' ban

Georgia Harrison, 32, from Greater Manchester, claims she has wrongly been given a travel ban preventing her from leaving Turkey after she admitted smashing up a hotel room following a boozy night

Economics

2 d. ago Harry Dunn review ‘will not scrutinise actions of US government’

The 19-year-old was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car driven by American national Anne Sacoolas outside RAF Croughton in 2019.

Politics

2 d. ago British woman stranded in Israel remains in dark about evacuation flights

Mali Smith, 66, said she has not heard from the Foreign Office since registering for the repatriation flights last week.

Politics

2 d. ago Scientists criticise cut in UK funding for global vaccination group

Five-year £1.25bn pledge to Gavi is 40% cut in real terms, which experts say will cost lives in developing countriesThe UK has cut its funding to a leading global vaccination group by a quarter, a move that experts say will directly lead to the avoidable deaths of many thousands of children in developing countries.The Foreign Office billed the £1.25bn commitment over five years to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi) as a major boost to the group’s work as well as to the UK’s status as a developer of vaccines. A series of aid agencies praised the decision. Continue reading...

Politics

2 d. ago "I've offered them £10,000": Mum still stuck in Turkey on travel ban SEVEN weeks after trashing hotel room

Georgia Harrison was arrested last month after smashing up the bathroom while spending a night celebrating her partner's new teeth

Economics

3 d. ago Foreign Office issues warning for visitors to Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

The Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office has issued warnings about extreme heat in four countries

Events

3 d. ago Foreign Office issues new travel advice for Brits heading to Spain, Greece and Turkey

The heatwave in Europe has led to the UK's Foreign Office issuing new travel advice for Brits heading to Spain, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus as the mercury climbs above 40C

Politics

3 d. ago Holidaymakers to Turkey, Spain, Greece and Cyprus in Foreign Office warning

Those heading to the popular hotspots have been told to be aware and to take care.

Events

3 d. ago Foreign Office tells UK travellers holidays may be 'disrupted'

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for a number of countries including some popular holiday destinations

Politics

3 d. ago Foreign Office issues fresh travel alerts to countries including the UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar

New travel advice has been issued for countries including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar

Events

3 d. ago UK Foreign Office issues travel warnings for popular holiday spots including Spain

The Foreign Office has issued warnings for Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus due to extreme temperatures.

Events

4 d. ago UK Foreign Office's travel warnings for Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice due to a heatwave smashing the EU and has issued warnings for Brits visiting Spain, Turkey, Greece and Cyprus

Events

4 d. ago Inside 4 countries on the Foreign Office's 'do not travel list'

The Government's Foreign Office registers daily updates on ongoing security concerns across the world

Politics

4 d. ago Cyprus travel: Simon Calder explains as Foreign Office safety advice issued

The Independent travel correspondent Simon Calder offers his advice on whether it is safe to travel to Cyprus as the Iran-Israel conflict continues.

Politics