3 d. ago Geopolitical football: Iran? Trump? How the game can stand strong in a fractured world

The 2026 World Cup is set to be a polarising event but, even if it will not be the first to be politically contentious, it will expose a growing uneaseFive months out from the World Cup the politics are impossible to avoid. There are concerns relating to one of the host countries, the US, with armed immigration officials roaming through its cities and visa restrictions ramped up against foreign visitors. One qualifying nation, Iran, is experiencing a public uprising against its leadership, with the regime attacking its citizens in response. Among other qualifiers there are concerns over democratic backsliding in Tunisia, ecological crimes in Ecuador and , in the future host country Saudi Arabia. And that’s just for starters.It sometimes feels as if this summer’s tournament, the one Gianni Infantino recently described as “the greatest show ever on planet Earth”, will serve as an inescapable reminder of the depressing state of the world in 2026. It could yet be an event that goes down...

Politics

5 d. ago Migrant who entered UK saying he was a health worker was found working in a curry house: Probe as thousands abuse 'NHS visas'

Ijaj Abid Redwan Hridoy arrived here on a health care visa but Home Office immigration enforcement officers found him working at the Junoon Indian restaurant in the village of Helsby in Cheshire.

Events

8 d. ago Fury as American Islamist preacher who praised Hamas is invited to speak in Britain next weekend: Pressure grows on Home Office to revoke Lebanese

Lebanese-born Ustadh Mohamed Baajour is due to speak in London, Manchester and Leicester next weekend, amid accusations that he holds fundamentalist and antisemitic views.

Society

3 w. ago Shabana Mahmood announces crackdown on DR Congo visas after failed agreement over illegal migrants

The Home Office has revoked fast-track visa processing and halted preferential visa treatment for the country's diplomats and VIPs after it failed to agree new measures.

Events

last month Foreign prison officers get visa exemption to prevent UK jail chaos

The Chief Inspector of Prisons earlier warned of a ‘devastating effect’ if a solution was not found

Events

last month Ministers ‘pretty confident’ visa details not compromised in Foreign Office hack

Business minister Sir Chris Bryant refused to say whether a Chinese-linked group was responsible for the cyber attack.

Politics