Nicola Thomas

Interesting.

It has been a very fruitful visit to the Middle East and the Gulf region. We already have landmark agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. We are also working with Jordan and Kuwait. Rustem Umerov is currently in the region, continuing political-level negotiations – he reported to me today – and there are already additional requests from Bahrain and Oman. For Ukraine, this is not only a matter of prestige and respect for our people; it is a very practical matter. We are exporting our system of protection, the skills of our warriors, the knowledge that our state possesses. And from these partner countries we expect reciprocal security engagement. We have already agreed on opportunities to strengthen air defense, on the joint development of defense production, and on energy cooperation, including diesel and other critical supplies that we need right now.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that about 80% of the 900,000 Syrians in Germany should return home within three years, an idea supported by Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He added that well-integrated Syrians who wish to stay would be allowed to remain.

From reading Paul Holden's statement, the BBC does seem to be guilty of very shoddy journalism here. Whoever the most senior person is in the BBC right now, they need to get a grip on this story at once - today, Monday - no faffing around.

SECRETARY RUBIO: The people of Iran are incredible people. The people who lead them are the problem. If there are new people now in charge with a more reasonable vision of the future, it would be good news for the entire world. But we must be prepared if that isn’t the case.

#BREAK Judge REJECTS government’s attempt to dismiss the #megaembassy Judicial Review! Also relying on national security considerations to avoid disclosure. Main hearing early July. 💪

Every single person involved across every single organisation FAILED. They continue to fail. Cannot and will not admit their failures. They dig their heels in, align their stories, and perform with arrogance, denial and hostility. Do they realise, or even care about the impact of their actions? I hope they can see how it is finally being played out for the public and state to see. Shameful. #nottinghaminquiry 💚💛

US think tank: The UK government has accepted an ambitious and necessary vision for British defense, promised to deliver it at what it called a “wartime pace,” and then spent the better part of two years producing nothing of substance. There are no significant program commitments, no major modernization announcements, and no serious investment decisions.  fpri.org/article/2026/0…

As @KemiBadenoch says, why didn't McSweeney tell police he worked at No. 10? The phone could have been stolen by a Russian or Chinese intelligence operative, then what? Very fishy. Starmer's desperate to move on from Mandelson, but it's not going away. mol.im/a/15689875

Rather than chairing yet another COBRA meeting tomorrow, the Prime Minister should cut energy bills, get Britain drilling, and axe the tax rises. Here’s my letter to Keir Starmer👇

Ed Miliband has decreed that imported electricity will count as being as 'clean' as wind and solar even when it comes from burning coal and gas, in a move critics have branded "cheating" and "bonkers". dailysceptic.org/2026/03/30/mil…

@IranIntl_En Just seen film on x allegedly showing police forcibly removing him from his office. Clarity on this is important: Irsael cited his continued presence as a real concern & a demonstration of the impotence of the Lebanese authorities when it comes to implementing their decisions.

Iran said on Monday its ambassador to Lebanon would remain in Beirut despite a Lebanese order to leave, turning a diplomatic reprimand into a broader test of how far the Lebanese state can push back when its decisions collide with the interests of Tehran and Hezbollah. iranintl.com/en/202603302905

Saudi Arabia condemns Iranian strikes on a Kuwaiti military camp and critical power facility.

The Islamic regime in Iran continues executing its opponents The Islamic regime executed two men ​convicted of links to the opposition ‌group People's Mojahedin Organisation and allegedly plotting armed attacks in Tehran ​using improvised launcher devices, Reuters reports.

Labour Begins Negotiating Permanent Mechanism to Hand Taxpayer Cash to EU order-order.com/2026/03/30/lab…

“risk is that you are effectively squeezing the balloon at one end; you are moving air from one end to the other. You are not resolving the problem; you are just moving it.” Ex president @TheLawSociety Richard Atkinson on Government plans to shift more cases to the Magistrates Evidence to @CommonsJustice

The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying 100,000 tons of oil for humanitarian purposes, has arrived in Cuba, the Russian Ministry of Transport says.

Almost six years ago, within hours of the imposition of a draconian National Security Law by Beijing on Hong Kong, the British government initiated a new scheme for Hong Kongers to find sanctuary and a pathway to citizenship in the United Kingdom. It was announced by the prime minister at the time, Boris Johnson, and championed by his Home Secretary Priti Patel. It received unanimous cross-party support. It was one of the few things upon which Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer agreed. ✍️ Benedict Rogers Article | spectator.com/article/why-is…

Something you don’t see every day: Lebanese police dragging Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon out of his embassy and, ultimately, out of Lebanon. The ambassador had been expelled from Lebanon but refused to leave. A good development!

🚨NEW: Ed Miliband has been accused of ‘cheating’ by labelling electricity from foreign gas-fired power stations as carbon free He has pledged to make the grid 95% gas-free by 2030, yet in these plans 15% of UK power comes from gas powered stations in neighbouring countries

New polling has Zack Polanski's Green Party FIVE POINTS ahead of Labour on 20%.