The Foreign Office has issued new travel advice for Cyprus as UK terror threat is reviewed following Iranian missile strikes in the region.

The Foreign Office has updated its guidance for British travellers following missile launches directed at UK military installations.

Yesterday saw US-Israeli forces conduct ‘Operation Epic Fury’ strikes against Iran, resulting in the death of the nation’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei. Tehran responded swiftly, targeting American air bases in Dubai, Kuwait and Bahrain with retaliatory missiles.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer clarified the UK has “played no role in these strikes” whilst confirming British aircraft “are in the sky”. With the crisis continuing to unfold, Defence Secretary John Healey revealed the UK’s terror threat level is “absolutely” being reassessed amid fears of Iranian reprisals.

Two Iranian missiles appeared to be on course for Cyprus yesterday – home to a pair of UK military installations. These bases accommodate thousands of British service personnel on permanent deployment to the Mediterranean island.

The missiles ultimately fell short of their apparent target, plunging into the Eastern Mediterranean Sea instead. Nevertheless, the Foreign Office maintains there remains an ongoing risk in Cyprus, urging British nationals to exercise “sensible precautions” whilst in the territory, reports the Mirror.

The updated guidance warns: “There is a heightened risk of regional tension. Escalation could lead to travel disruption and other unanticipated impacts. British nationals should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances”. Recommended safety measures include consulting government guidance regarding overseas crises, registering for FCDO travel advisory email notifications, keeping abreast of domestic and international news coverage, and subscribing to additional local information services and resources.

Defence Secretary John Healey, however, stated the UK government does not believe the missiles were deliberately aimed at the bases. He said: “We don’t believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless it’s an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region.

“It demonstrates how our bases, our personnel, military and civilians at the moment are at risk with a regime that is increasingly indiscriminate, widespread and uncontrollable in the attacks it’s mounting,” Mr Healey added.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), which continues to update its travel guidance as the conflict intensifies, has now recommended against all travel to Turkey, one of Cyprus’s bordering nations.

It recommends against all travel to areas within 10km of the Syrian border owing to “fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism”. The department has additionally issued guidance “against all but essential travel” to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, urging British nationals in these countries, along with Palestine and Israel, to “should shelter in place” and “register your presence” with the UK foreign office.

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Global oil prices have surged and stock futures have plunged following US-Israel military strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sparking retaliatory attacks

Global oil prices have already climbed following strikes across the Middle East after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran over the weekend.

Roughly 15 million barrels of crude oil per day — about 20% of the world’s oil — are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, making it the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, according to Rystad Energy. Tankers traveling through the strait, which is bordered in the north by Iran, carry oil and gas from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Iran.

West Texas Intermediate, the light, sweet crude oil produced in the United States, was selling for about $72 a barrel Sunday night, up around 8% from its trading price of about $67 on Friday, according to data from CME group.

A barrel of Brent crude, the international standard, was trading at around $79 per barrel Sunday night, according to FactSet, up about 8% from its trading price of $72.87 on Friday, which had been a seven-month high at the time.

READ MORE: Donald Trump tells Iran ‘better not’ strike after Ayatollah Khamenei killed

READ MORE: Dubai airport chaos: Emirates confirms when flights will resume as Brits scramble to flee

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The price spike happened almost instantly after the military action as stock futures tumbled in overnight trading, raising alarm among equity investors. Futures on the Dow fell 517 points, roughly 1%, with comparable figures recorded across the S&P and NASDAQ, whilst gold futures jumped 2% in reaction to the oil price surge.

It comes as Iran continues retaliatory strikes in response to US and Israeli strikes which led to the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. At least three civilians have been killed in the UAE.

US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US and Israel carried out a joint military operation targeting Iran overnight, which resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran launched retaliatory strikes on Israel and US military bases throughout the Middle East in response to the attack, in which several dozen, including more than 50 primary school children, were killed.

Trump urged the Iranian people to seize this rare opportunity to overthrow its religious fundamentalist regime as the Iranian government pledged to unleash devastating attacks for what they described as a criminal assault, reports the Express US.

In a video statement on Truth Social, President Trump vowed to “avenge” US military deaths and “deliver the most punishing blow the terrorists who have waged a war against basically civilisation”.

“Combat operations continue in full force and will continue until all of our objectives are achieved,” he said in the six-minute clip upon his arrival back to Washington this evening.

The president continued to say that “sadly there will likely be more” US casualties, adding: “That’s the way it is.”

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Northern Ireland has seen a 26% increase

Experts have revealed that rat activity has significantly increased over the last year and it’s thought to be due to a record hot summer and exacerbated by recent wet weather.

Rentokil Pest Control said it had recorded a 10% year-on-year increase in confirmed rodent activity, with large regional spikes in Northern Ireland and northern England.

Northern Ireland recorded the largest increase of 26%, followed by Yorkshire (20%) and north-west England (19%).

READ MORE: NI man’s warning after rat in his car sees vehicle ‘written off’READ MORE: Lisburn mum ‘forced to leave home’ as rats chew large hole in her kitchen

Several other regions, including the West Midlands (16%) and Scotland (14%), also had double-digit rises.

Rentokil said longer-term climate patterns could be contributing to the increase, including 2025 being the UK’s warmest year on record.

It said milder weather could increase rat reproduction by extending their breeding season and leading to larger populations.

Rentokil warned that the record-breaking wet start to 2026 across the UK could also lead to higher levels of rat activity.

Sustained heavy rain can flood burrow systems and drainage networks, displacing rats and increasing the likelihood of infestations as they seek higher, drier shelter, it said.

Paul Blackhurst, from Rentokil, said: “Rats are highly capable swimmers. They can navigate strong currents, enter exposed pipes and sewers, and swim considerable distances in open water.

“However, what they cannot tolerate is prolonged submersion. When burrow systems and sewer networks flood, rats are forced to seek higher, drier ground, increasing the risk of infestations in properties.

“With northern regions already reporting notable increases in reported activity, continued wet weather may push more rats into properties. Early prevention and professional support are key.

“Simple steps such as proofing entry points, managing waste effectively and responding quickly to early signs of activity can make a significant difference. If a problem does become unmanageable, professional pest control experts are always on hand to provide safe and effective solutions.”

After periods of heavy rain, storms and flooding, property owners are advised to take proactive steps to reduce the risk of rodent activity, including:

• Clearing debris promptly by removing fallen branches, leaves and other items that may have accumulated around the property, as these create ideal hiding and nesting spots for rats.
• Sealing potential entry points.
• Inspecting the walls and foundations of the property for gaps, as rats can squeeze through “surprisingly small” openings
• Removing sources of food by ensuring outdoor bins are sturdy, fitted with tight lids and positioned away from building walls where possible.

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DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Some Palestinians say they fear the widening war sparked by U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran could overshadow the fragile situation in Gaza, just over a week after U.S. President Donald Trump rallied billions of dollars in pledges for the territory’s reconstruction and tried to nudge a ceasefire forward.

Residents say they are scared of neglect and deprivation, with Israel in the wake of the weekend strikes closing all crossings into their shattered territory of over 2 million people.

Palestinians told The Associated Press they were rushing to markets, haunted by memories of painful food scarcity last year under months of Israel’s blockade. Part of Gaza, around Gaza City, was found to be in famine.

“When the crossings shut down, everything was suspended from the market,” said Osamda Hanoda from Khan Younis. “The prices go up, and people live in misery.”

Reports show prices of goods rising sharply

The shaky Israel-Hamas ceasefire had led to more humanitarian aid and other supplies entering Gaza, even as the United Nations and aid partners say more of everything from basic medical supplies to fuel is needed.

Now, Palestinians are hoarding again, with reports of prices rising sharply for basic goods such as bags of flour.

“We are afraid of not finding milk” and diapers for the kids, or food and water, said Hassan Zanoun, who was displaced from Rafah.

COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza, did not respond to a request for comment Sunday. In its announcement of the closings, it asserted that the food supply inside the territory “is expected to suffice for an extended period.” It added that the rotation of humanitarian workers in and out of Gaza is postponed.

It was not clear when any crossing might reopen. Israeli authorities focused on Iran, and citizens dashed repeatedly for shelter as sirens wailed.

Ramadan is disrupted

The war in Gaza began with the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and it’s been marked from the start by restrictions on people and supplies being allowed into the territory — and terrified people, including medical evacuees in need of treatment, getting out.

A month ago, Gaza’s main Rafah border crossing with the outside world — its only crossing not with Israel — reopened, allowing a small and tightly controlled flow of Palestinian traffic in both directions. No cargo was allowed through.

Now all crossings are closed again in the middle of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, a time of chosen deprivation, evening feasts and prayer. Images have shown Palestinians lined up at long tables in the middle of bombed-out debris.

The strikes on Iran shook that routine.

“All the people rushed to markets, and they all wanted to shop and hide,” said Abeer Awwad, who was displaced from Gaza City, as word of the explosions in Tehran began to spread.

Under the Oct. 10 U.S.-brokered ceasefire, the heaviest fighting has subsided, though regular Israeli fire continues in Gaza. The U.N. World Food Program has noted progress in the enclave but said in its latest food security analysis last week that hunger remains.

“Households reported an average of two meals per day in February 2026, compared to one meal in July,” it said. “Still, one in five households consumed only one meal daily.”

A challenge for aid groups and others

Refocusing the world’s attention on Gaza is a challenge for aid groups and others as Iran scrambles for new leadership and explosions continue in Tehran, Israel and around the Middle East.

Trump has said bombing in Iran could continue through the week or longer, and warned Tehran of “A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!” if it escalates attacks.

It’s a dramatic turn from Trump’s launch less than two weeks ago of his new Board of Peace, a gathering of world leaders that is aimed at ending the war in Gaza but has ambitions of resolving conflicts elsewhere.

Even with that bump in momentum on Gaza, major challenges remain for the ceasefire. They include disarming Hamas, assembling and deploying an international stabilization force, and getting a newly appointed Palestinian committee meant to govern Gaza into the territory.

As the Middle East turns to another war, some Palestinians see a benefit: Israel’s military is distracted.

“The good thing is that the sound of booms and demolitions is rare now near the yellow line,” said Ahmed Abu Jahl, of Gaza City, speaking about the line dividing Gaza and marking out roughly half the territory controlled by Israeli forces.

“Even the drones, they are still flying overhead, but their number has gone down.”

___

Ezzidin reported from Cairo and Anna from Lowville, New York.

___

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Hydrolysis, also known as water cremation, has been dubbed “boil-in-the-bag” funerals by some and has been effectively banned in the UK until now

“Boil-in-the-bag” funerals are coming to the UK, it has been announced. Hydrolysis provides an eco-friendly option to conventional cremations or burials.

Formally called water cremation, the process has been labelled “boil-in-the-bag” funerals by some observers. Until now the method has been essentially prohibited in the UK, though it’s already established in Ireland, Canada and the United States.

Scotland has now become the first nation within the UK to adopt the technique following regulations introduced by the Scottish Government, which gained approval from the Scottish Parliament. In confirming the development, officials said it would provide choice for those seeking alternatives to burial or cremation for the first time in over a century.

Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said: “The choices people make about their remains prior to death are deeply personal, shaped by individual values, beliefs and the wishes of their families. Hydrolysis offers a new, environmentally friendly alternative to burial or cremation, responding to significant public support for greater choice, and it will be the first new option available for over 120 years.

“The process will be subject to the same assurances and regulatory requirements as existing methods, giving bereaved families confidence that their loved ones are treated with care, dignity and respect.”, reports the Mirror.

Hydrolysis sees the body wrapped in a silk or woollen shroud, or alternative biodegradable fabric, before being positioned in a vessel containing heated water and chemical solutions, accelerating the decomposition process. The remains can be given back to relatives, much like ashes after traditional cremation.

According to cremation.green the advantages include eliminating fossil fuel usage, lowering carbon dioxide emissions and, when compared to conventional burial, it’s considerably quicker. The website states that traditional burial methods require up to 25 years for complete human decomposition, whilst water-based cremation can be completed in merely two to three hours.

Already operating across 30 American states, plus Canada and South Africa, Europe’s inaugural water cremation centre, or resomation facility, launched in early 2023 in Navan, Co Meath, Ireland. The initial procedures in Scotland are anticipated to commence this summer once all required permissions are secured.

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What’s the plan Mr President? The clamour for an explanation for what comes next is building. Anxious allies across the region are demanding the Trump team shows it has a strategy.

With Americans already killed in this war, with oil prices spiking, and with the toll on US allies and their economies around the Gulf mounting, so pressure is building on President Trump.

The publicly stated strategy is unconvincing. Donald Trump has urged the Iranian people to rise up and seize control, and Iranians with guns to hand them in.

So far, the opposite has happened – far from surrendering their weapons, Iran‘s security forces have used them to shoot more Iranians for daring to celebrate the death of their despised dictator.

Live updates on strikes

By the end of day two, unnamed sources within the US administration were insisting there is a more cunning plan. Not to topple the regime so much as to split it.

With supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei dead, the hope is that more moderate elements will step forward, stabilise the country and negotiate more pragmatically.

That would be the Venezuela model. Decapitate and co-opt. There, the Trump administration seized the dictator and claimed to find more amenable elements in Nicolas Maduro’s regime.

It is too early to gauge the success of that strategy, but the Trump team may well hope to repeat something similar in Iran.

In his Truth Social post, President Trump hinted that it may already be working in Iran. Some members of Iran’s security forces, he said, are giving up the fight.

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How is Iran hitting back after strikes?

Iran, though, is not Venezuela. The regime is more coherent and much larger than Maduro’s. More than 200,000 armed men are thought to be on the payroll. They are in it together.

What is not known is what is happening on the ground. Israeli intelligence appears to have penetrated the country and almost certainly will be trying to compromise the integrity of that regime. There will be efforts, both diplomatic and covert to co-opt elements within its leadership.

Read more:
What we know so far about airstrikes
Which Iranian officials are dead?
Attacks close Middle East airports

We have no idea what efforts have been under way to seduce figures in Iran’s government in return for sparing their lives.

For now, it is far from clear what the plan is and if it is working. In the absence of one emerging, the future looks extremely uncertain for Iran and the region.

US President Donald Trump warned “there will likely be more” US casualties during operations in Iran in a statement posted on Truth Social. This comes as US Central Command (Centcom) said three US service members have been killed in action and five “seriously wounded”.

In Israel, nine people have been killed after a missile strike in the city of Beit Shemesh, according to medical services.

Meanwhile Iranian officials say at least 153 people including children were killed after a reported strike hit a school on Saturday, according to Iranian officials. Iran has blamed the US and Israel. Centcom said it was looking into reports of the incident, while Israel’s military said it was “not aware” of any IDF operations in the area.

The UAE has said three people have been killed by Iranian attacks since Saturday, while in Kuwait, one person has reportedly been killed.

More on this story.

Video edited by Amy Walker.

Sajni Shah, a money expert at Compare the Market, said: “For many first-time buyers, help from the bank of mum and dad can be the difference between getting on the property ladder or missing out altogether – but these findings show that the support often comes with emotional and practical trade-offs.

A formal declaration of war has not been made but it looks and sounds like war in central Tehran.

Clouds of smoke and the crack of high explosives rupture the air as the Americans and the Israelis bring their operation to the heart of the capital city.

And if the elimination of the senior Iranian leaders was their chief objective, it seems they have achieved their goal.

Live updates on strikes

The death of the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was acknowledged on state television at 4am on Sunday. The presenter recited a prayer for the dead – but he was barely able to finish it as he choked back the tears.

In stark contrast, the demise of the supreme leader has been met with a burst of exuberance and sheer joy in locations throughout the country.

“Congratulations on our freedom”, cried one in the back seat of a car.

“Am I dreaming? Hello to the new world!” shouted another in southern Iran, as he watched people tear down a monument to Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

In Tehran, many cheered from the windows and lit fireworks from their balconies. Khamenei ruled Iran with an iron fist – an autocratic leader prepared to repress and kill his own people to protect the regime.

But in a deeply polarised society, he was also a revered religious figure – a man invested with the authority of the divine.

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Protests after Khamenei’s death

Anger and shock among some Iranians

In Tehran’s Revolution Square, his supporters spoke of their anger and deep shock.

“We were saying to ourselves all night that his death must be a lie. Unfortunately, it was the truth,” said one woman, as her body shook heavily with emotion.

“We lost our dearest person, we lost our elder, we lost our master,” said another tear-stained man.

Read more:
Which Iranian officials are dead?
Attacks close Middle East airports

President Trump says he has given Iranians the opportunity to take back their country but it is clear that a significant number back the existing regime.

A regime this coalition of two is now trying to destroy.

We saw the remains of the police headquarters in Tehran and the bombed-out shell of the Revolutionary Prosecutor’s Office, where many political dissidents have been sentenced to death.

One massive blast claimed the detention facilities used the feared paramilitary police or ‘Basij’.

The regime certainly looks vulnerable as the Americans and the Israelis operate with what appears to be total air superiority.

Yet the clerics and their supporters remain and they control the streets.

Labour MPs are among a group of more than 60 parliamentarians to have made public their opposition to the planned Rosebank oil field – with one of Sir Keir Starmer’s backbenchers urging the Government to rule against the development and take a stand “against Trump, Reform and their fossil fuel paymasters”.

Clive Lewis is one of more than 50 MPs at Westminster who have signed a pledge from campaign group Uplift to “oppose the Rosebank oil field” and instead “advocate for a properly funded just transition for oil and gas workers and communities”.

Urging the Government to reject the development, Norwich South MP Mr Lewis said: “We must stand our ground against Trump, Reform and their fossil fuel paymasters.

“Approving an enormous new oil field would mean caving in to their anti-climate, anti-renewables agenda that runs completely counter to our values and our long-term interests.”

Scottish Labour MP Chris Murray, another of the Labour MPs to have signed the pledge, said the decision on Rosebank was “an opportunity for the Government to change course”.

It comes as the UK Government continues to consider whether the development of the oil field can go ahead – with Labour now under mounting pressure after the loss of the Gorton and Denton by-election to the Greens on Thursday.

Rosebank, which lies about 80 miles west of Shetland, is the UK’s largest untapped field, containing up to an estimated 300 million barrels of oil.

Drilling there was approved by the Conservative government in 2023 but was then subject to a legal challenge in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling which said the emissions created from burning fossil fuels should be considered when granting permission for new sites.

Now the decision on whether it can proceed lies with Labour ministers – with some 16 Labour MPs having made plain their opposition to the development.

The group includes Mr Lewis, Mr Murray, former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell and Scottish Labour’s Brian Leishman.

Former Labour MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbott have also signed the pledge, along with a number of Liberal Democrat and Green MPs, SNP MP Chris Law, Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts and Paul Maskey of Sinn Fein.

In Scotland a number of Labour MSPs have signed the pledge, along with Green MSPs – including the party’s Scottish co-leader Ross Greer – and former SNP health secretary Michael Matheson.

While previous Scottish first ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf made plain their opposition to Rosebank, First Minister John Swinney has insisted the Scottish Government takes a “case-by-case approach” to new oil and gas developments, stressing these should only proceed if found to be compatible with climate change targets.

Mr Lewis said opposing Rosebank would “show that a Labour Government will stand by the promises we made to the country”.

He added: “There are only so many times we can afford to make mistakes and then change course.

“With Rosebank, we have an opportunity to get it right the first time.”

Mr Murray, the Labour MP for Edinburgh East and Musselburgh, said many locals in his constituency were “deeply concerned about Rosebank and rightly so”.

He added: “Climate change is one of the reasons I came into politics, and opening new oil and gas fields is simply incompatible with our climate commitments.

“With the North Sea’s oil supply dwindling, Scotland’s energy sector must transition to clean energy, or workers risk being left behind.”

Scottish Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba, who has also signed the pledge, argued that “approving projects like Rosebank will lock us into a toxic dependence on volatile, conflict-ridden fossil fuels”.

This would create “another excuse to delay the urgent investment needed to create secure, well-paid jobs for Scotland’s workers”, she added.

Ms Villalba said: “In an increasingly uncertain world, where climate action is relegated in favour of fossil politics, the UK and Scotland must lead the way on the clean energy transition.”

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said people in her constituency and across the country “are already facing the consequences of an increasingly unstable climate”.

Highlighting the impact of flooding and “skyrocketing food prices”, she said that “climate impacts are now a daily reality”.

Ms Hobhouse said: “Extreme weather is damaging crops, putting pressure on farmers, and destroying our precious natural environment.

“We cannot ignore these warning signs.

“A massive new oil field like Rosebank would only make matters worse.

“The emissions would be enormous, locking us into decades more pollution when we should be cutting carbon and unlocking the benefits of cheap, renewable energy.”

Approving the Rosebank development would “make a mockery of Labour’s environmental promises”, she said.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “Our priority is to deliver a fair, orderly and prosperous transition in the North Sea in line with our climate and legal obligations, which drives our clean energy future of energy security, lower bills, and good long-term jobs.”