The Defence Secretary has declined to give a clean assurance that Iran lacks the firepower to hit the UK, even as he sought to calm fears by stressing that no strike on British soil is believed to be in the planning.

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Britain’s Defence Secretary has stopped short of guaranteeing that Iran doesn’t possess the capability to strike the UK, while attempting to ease concerns by emphasising that no attack on British territory is thought to be under consideration.

John Healey faced persistent questioning during a Sky News interview about whether London itself could fall within the range of Iranian missiles – a subject he addressed cautiously without categorically ruling it out.

“We have no assessment of Iranian plans to strike London,” he said.

The discussion followed Iran launching missiles towards Diego Garcia – the distant Indian Ocean atoll that serves as a joint British and American military base. Healey had earlier informed Parliament the incoming projectiles landed considerably short of the island.

With the Government declining to rule out the threat of Iranian missiles striking the UK, questions about which specific areas could be vulnerable have become increasingly urgent, reports the Express.

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Defence experts have offered a less comforting assessment than the Defence Secretary. Both the Israeli Defence Forces and the Institute for the Study of War have positioned London within what they characterise as a theoretical 2,500-mile threat zone – the maximum range of Iran’s most sophisticated modified intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which includes the Khorramshahr-4.

UK sites at elevated risk due to the Iran conflict Analysts have highlighted the following locations as facing an increased threat due to ongoing tensions between the West and Iran in 2026:

RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire – This airbase functions as Britain’s main departure point for US Air Force strategic bombers – including B-1B Lancers and B-52 Stratofortresses – presently striking Iranian missile installations, making it a prime target on any Iranian hit list.

Portsmouth and Devonport, Plymouth – These two critical naval hubs house approximately two-thirds of the Royal Navy’s fleet between them, rendering them clear choices for any assault designed to disable British maritime capability.

GCHQ, Cheltenham – Serving as the hub of Britain’s signals intelligence and cyber defence capabilities, the distinctive circular facility would constitute a valuable target for any opponent aiming to disrupt rather than physically obliterate.

RAF Fylingdales, North Yorkshire – This radar installation on the Yorkshire moors carries out a role that renders it indispensable during any missile confrontation: monitoring incoming ballistic threats from launch. The BBC has flagged it as a key counter-force objective for exactly this reason.

Barrow-in-Furness – The Cumbrian shipyard where Britain’s nuclear submarines are built has been identified by analysts as occupying a precarious spot – important enough to draw scrutiny, yet described as ‘woefully exposed’ to the type of long-range assault Iran now has the capability to consider.

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Another cluster of sites derives its risk assessment not from the present conflict alone but from the enduring strategic importance it holds – as the location of Britain’s nuclear arsenal, its main naval facility and its defence manufacturing base:

Faslane, HMNB Clyde – Scotland’s deep-water naval facility on the Clyde serves as the permanent berth for Britain’s Trident-equipped submarines – the physical manifestation of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Telford, MOD Donnington – Landlocked and unassuming, the Shropshire depot nevertheless anchors the supply network that maintains British armed forces equipped and functioning.

For the time being, Healey’s stance remains firm: no preparations, no immediate danger, no reason for alarm. However, with Iranian missiles already flying over the Indian Ocean and London featured in analyst risk evaluations, the room for comfort is getting tighter.

There’s serious trouble brewing in EastEnders next week, as Nicola’s attention shifts in a big way, and it looks like Penny could be firmly in her sights.

What starts as a happy milestone quickly spirals into chaos when Penny and Vinny head off for their first baby scan. It should be a moment to celebrate, but things don’t quite go to plan.

Before they even get there, Vinny is thrown by a call from a potential investor interested in backing Penny’s business. Keen to make things work, he agrees to meet them, despite warnings from Priya, who overhears and urges him to steer clear of anything dodgy.

With Vinny distracted, Penny ends up going into the scan alone, and what she hears completely shakes her. The baby is further along than expected… a detail she chooses to keep to herself when Vinny eventually turns up.

And it’s not hard to see why.

Later, clearly overwhelmed, Penny confides in Lauren and Oscar Branning, admitting that if the dates don’t add up, then Vinny might not be the father after all, and there’s a real chance the baby could be Harry’s.

It’s a bombshell that threatens to blow everything apart.

Meanwhile, Nicola is dealing with worries of her own. As George gears up for the launch of Knight Fusion, Harry notices that Nicola is on edge.

She admits she hasn’t felt her baby move, but doesn’t want to stress George out ahead of the big day. In the end, Harry and Gina Knight convince her to get checked over, and thankfully, everything is fine.

But Nicola’s focus quickly shifts, and it’s Penny who ends up under the spotlight.

After a tense run-in between Penny and Suki Panesar over Vinny’s risky business decisions, Nicola steps in and offers support, even taking Penny to Harry’s barn to calm down. On the surface, it looks like she’s being kind… but there’s more going on.

Behind the scenes, the pieces are starting to fall into place.

Harry later opens up to Nicola, revealing that he and Penny slept together once last year, and with Gina not wanting children, it’s clearly been playing on his mind. Combined with Penny’s earlier behaviour, it’s enough to make Nicola seriously suspicious.

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And she doesn’t waste any time.

Confronting Penny, Nicola lays it all out and demands answers, insisting she takes a DNA test immediately. If she refuses, Nicola threatens to expose everything to both Vinny and Harry.

Suddenly, Penny is completely trapped.

Desperate and emotional, she turns back to Lauren and Oscar for advice before finally confronting Nicola again. But the situation quickly escalates into a heated showdown, and just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, Nicola is suddenly hit with waves of pain.

It’s a shocking moment that stops everything in its tracks.

Despite Harry urging her to go to the hospital, Nicola stubbornly refuses, insisting she just needs to rest at home. But as the launch of Knight Fusion gets underway, things take another dramatic turn when she’s struck by what feels like contractions.

With tensions at an all-time high and secrets threatening to be exposed, Nicola’s grip on the situation seems stronger than ever, but could her health scare change everything?

And as Penny struggles under the weight of Nicola’s ultimatum, it’s clear this is just the beginning of the drama.

MORE: EastEnders baby emergency as in-agony Nicola is rushed to hospital

MORE: All EastEnders spoilers for next week as shock pregnancy secret explodes

MORE: EastEnders heartbreak confirmed as Penny’s baby is not Vinny’s

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Santiago Martínez, who stared on the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, was sentenced on Wednesday March 25 for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention

A former “Love is Blind” contestant has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for attempting to kill his ex, whom he met on the show.

Santiago Martínez was sentenced on Wednesday (25 Mar) for attempted murder, repeated assault, and unlawful detention. Martínez joined the Netflix reality show “Love Is Blind: Argentina”, which premiered in November 2024, when he was 29.

Presenting himself as a young entrepreneur, he became one of 32 participants to successfully form a couple and married Emily Ceco, then 24, in a civil ceremony during the show’s final episodes.

READ MORE: MOBO Awards 2026 winners in full as Olivia Dean takes home three trophiesREAD MORE: Bodyguard breaks silence after making Jude Law’s daughter cry as Chappell Roan hit with massive scrutiny

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The couple had been planning an intimate wedding with close family and friends. However, in February 2025, Emily reported Martínez for gender-based violence after appearing with a black eye, leading to the cancellation of their engagement.

A court issued a restraining order to prevent Martínez from approaching Emily, and he was removed from streaming programmes once the allegations became public.

The prosecution and plaintiffs had requested a 16-year sentence, but Martínez was handed 15 years after the prosecution rejected a plea deal that would have reduced his term, as reported by creatorzine.com.

Speaking to local media, Emily said: “I can’t believe it. I feel it’s over, I’m finally going to have peace. Justice has been done.” She recalled her first encounter with Martínez after their separation, during the reading of the sentence. “My whole body was shaking. I was terrified,” she said. “During his statement, he apologised and said he still loved me.

“I didn’t respond, but my brother went too far and told him, ‘If you loved her so much, why did you almost kill her? You beat her up – coward.’”

Emily added: “I have 15 years of peace ahead. I don’t know what will happen when he gets out, but I hope the justice system continues to protect me. If he tried to kill me when I gave him everything, I can’t imagine what he might do to me or my family after 15 years of anger.”

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Netflix’s Detective Hole has only just been released, but viewers are already eager to know if Jo Nesbø’s crime drama will return for a second season

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Netflix has recently released its gripping new crime drama Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, yet some viewers are already eager to discover whether another series is on the cards.

The nine-episode detective series, adapted from bestselling crime writer Nesbø’s The Devil’s Star, serves up a compelling journey for Netflix audiences , reports the Mirror.

Detective Hole centres on troubled investigator Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann) as he battles against time to locate a serial killer before their next attack.

Simultaneously, Harry finds himself embroiled in a perilous cat-and-mouse game with corrupt fellow officer Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman).

Will there be another season of Netflix’s Detective Hole?

In an exclusive conversation with Wales Online publishers Reach Plc, creator Nesbø, leading actor Santelmann and Beate Lønn star Ellen Helinder discussed the programme’s future.

Nesbø revealed: “No plans yet [for a season two]. Right now, we’re just concentrating on getting this TV series out to the audience and we’ve been working on this for three years now.

“So, just the thought of starting all over again right now is a bit premature and we’re so exhausted right now that we want a vacation.”

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Nevertheless, Harry Hole star Santelmann remarked: “I’m ready. You might be exhausted.”

Nesbø jokingly responded: “You’re ready? Then I’m ready too for season two.”

The crime writer acknowledged that he hadn’t yet considered the direction he’d prefer to take the programme or which Harry Hole novel a potential second series might explore.

Meanwhile, actress Helinder, who plays the talented forensics officer Beate, expressed her aspirations for a second series of Detective Hole: “Just to keep working with these amazing people and develop the characters even more.

“There’s so much to find in these people, who work within the law enforcement.

“Even more the morality, the ethical dilemmas and how is Harry going to cope with everything? Who is Beate? I would like to explore her backstory.

“I think this ability that she has for facial recognition is so cool, just for her to keep tracking cases and doing her thing.”

As Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole has only recently launched, Netflix will be monitoring audience numbers before making any decisions about continuation.

The Devil’s Star represents just one of 13 Harry Hole novels that Nesbø has penned, meaning there’s abundant material for the production team and indeed the writer, who also worked as screenwriter on the Netflix adaptation, to utilise.

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is streaming on Netflix now

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We’re in Miami and Washington DC. The president wraps up a cabinet meeting ahead of a trip to South Florida to talk to the Saudis about Iran.

Mail-in voting is on people’s minds too. The president calls it cheating… except when he does it. We react to the revelation about Trump’s voting habits.

But first, we’ve spent a couple of days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Christianity, and the Church, is becoming a significant part of the direction of this administration. It’s playing into the war waged against Iran.

Are we in the middle of a modern-day holy war?

Watch Martha’s film from Tulsa, Oklahoma, here.

You can watch all episodes on our YouTube channel.

Email us on trump100@sky.uk with your comments and questions.

​North Yorkshire Council’s ‘asset rationalisation’ plan, which includes the purchase of Resolution House by the A64 in Scarborough for an undisclosed sum, and a move of staff from Scarborough Town Hall and Ryedale House, has been given the green light by councillors.

​The authority has said that new customer access points will be created in town centre sites in Scarborough and Malton.

​A group of coastal and independent councillors called for a “full independent cost assessment” and for a full meeting of the authority to make a decision on the scheme, which was announced by the council earlier this month.

​However, at a specially convened meeting of NYC’s overview and scrutiny committee on Thursday, March 26, members voted 9-5 against the motion.

​Cllr Rich Maw, proposer of the motion, said: “This call-in seeks to safeguard financial prudence because the assurances provided so far aren’t enough. There is insufficient documentation to support a purchase of this significance, and if other members believe there is, that is on their conscience.”

​The scheme has been presented as a way to avoid up to £19m of costs to upgrade “appalling working conditions” at the ageing coastal town hall site, and could see Malton’s Ryedale House office sold to make way for housing.

​At the meeting, council officers were at pains to emphasise that the Scarborough town hall ‘campus’ consists of four buildings and that it was not seeking to demolish the Grade-II Listed historic town hall property.

​Scarborough’s town mayor, Cllr Thomas Murray, asked for assurances that “the town hall remains at the centre of civic life and will be maintained for civic use”, highlighting the absence of “explicit safeguards”.

​However, the council said it could not give any “cast-iron guarantees”.

​The council said its position was that it “does not oppose the listed Town Hall building being retained for community or civic use, provided this does not place substantial costs on this council.

​“While no cast-iron guarantee can be given regarding the long-term future use of the building, there is no short-term requirement for the town council to vacate the premises.”

​​A provisional sum of up to £750,000 has been approved to support the establishment of new front-facing customer service points within Scarborough and Malton town centres, and to fund costs associated with the advancement of redevelopment proposals for vacated sites.

​Cllr Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff asked if the council had commissioned an independent survey on the condition of Resolution House and added: “Surely we should have some independent verification that it is a bargain.”

​NYC corporate director Gary Fielding said: “It’s worth remembering that Resolution House has been refurbished to a very high spec by Anglo American, and we have had assessment support from Align Property. It’s in extremely good condition.”

​Deputy leader of the council, Cllr Gareth Dadd, told the meeting: “Let’s be clear, there’s a misconception that big, bad NYC is coming to knock down the historic Town Hall, and that could have been communicated better.

​“In a civilised society, we cannot let our staff work in these conditions, and the time for action has come.

“We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder with the residents of Scarborough because it’s the right thing to do.

​“I believe what we are buying is virtually risk-free and helps regenerate Scarborough. If we miss this opportunity, we’re missing the opportunity of a generation.”

​According to a report prepared for the executive committee, the scheme would create “minimum ongoing savings in property running costs of £400,000 per annum and savings of more than £20 million in backlog maintenance liabilities across Ryedale House and Scarborough Town Hall”.

Mr Fielding said: “The condition of Scarborough Town Hall is not acceptable and it is not fit for purpose. To do nothing is frankly not an option.

​“Would members prefer to spend £19m to bring the town hall campus up to date for and if not, there has to be an alternative and that has to be presented pretty quickly.”

​The overview and scrutiny committee also voted to endorse the decision of the executive with 11 members in favour and three against.

Sergeant Tim Ansell was stabbed as he stood in between a knifeman and fellow officer in Whalley Range

A Greater Manchester Police officer bravely risked his life to tackle a knifeman who launched at colleagues in the street following a traffic stop. Sergeant Tim Ansell was stabbed when he protected his colleague during the armed attack in Whalley Range in 2023.

Ansell, of the Trafford district response team, was recognised for his courageous actions on July 26, 2023 after responding to what began as a routine road traffic accident. The situation had escalated when a hooded man, identified as Jacob Brown, 27, lunged at officers from behind with a knife, attacking Ansell’s colleague, Sergeant Foster, first.

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Dramatic bodycam footage from the scene captured the moment the officer staggers to his feet and calls for help. He is heard telling a colleague: “Put something on my neck here, I’ve been f***ing stabbed here.”

Sgt Ansell then placed himself between the knifeman and his fellow officer, shielding from further harm. Sgt Ansell was stabbed repeatedly, sustaining open wounds to his neck and injuries to his arm and body.

Sgt Ansell then fought to take hold of the assailant’s upper body to prevent him from harming others. Colleague PC Marcus Wolstencroft deployed a Taser to restrain and handcuff Brown, who was then arrested and taken into custody.

All three police officers involved later received multiple accolades for their bravery, including the Chief Constable’s Annual Bravery Awards, the John Egerton Bravery Award from GMP’s Police Federation and the North West Bravery Award.

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It was then announced that Sgt Ansell was to be awarded the King’s Commendation for Bravery. Greater Manchester Police said he received the King’s Commendation at St. James’ Palace in London on Wednesday (March 25).

“The actions of all three officers ultimately saved each other and meant no members of the public suffered any injuries,” the force said.

Brown, who had been carrying a blue-handled craft knife and had no connection to the original collision, was sentenced in April 2024 to an indefinite hospital order after pleading guilty to attempted murder with three counts of wounding with intent.

The UK and its NATO allies in Europe must prepare for a “worst case scenario” of the US not defending them in a crisis, an influential committee of peers and MPs has warned.

Tensions between Donald Trump‘s administration and Sir Keir Starmer‘s government could also compromise the reliability of critical pillars of UK national security, including the maintenance of Trident missiles used in the navy’s nuclear deterrent submarines, intelligence sharing and access to programmes such as the F-35 jet, it said in a report.

The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy urged London to “plan to move away from a bilateral relationship with the United States that is so dependent on the latter for nuclear and intelligence operations, and conventional defence”.

Follow latest on Middle East war

It also advised the UK, Europe and Canada to develop a plan “for a transition towards greater European leadership of NATO“.

The intervention, published on Friday, came as President Trump again lambasted his allies – and the UK in particular – for choosing not to join his war against Iran.

He mocked the Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers as “toys”, while accusing fellow NATO countries of having “done absolutely nothing” to help combat the Iranian regime.

Posting on social media, the president added: “The USA needs nothing from NATO, but ‘never forget’ this very important point in time.”

The comment is a further signal that Washington’s support to the transatlantic alliance under Article 5 of its founding treaty on collective defence – where an attack on one ally is deemed to be an attack on all – cannot be guaranteed.

Mr Trump has already repeatedly dismissed Mr Starmer as not being like Winston Churchill.

Read more:
British public’s fears of war revealed
Putin’s ‘hidden hand likely helping Iran against Trump’

The increased unpredictability of the White House’s security priorities is upending NATO assumptions on the defence of Europe – which has always been built around a belief that the US armed forces would be the dominant power on the side of the allies in a war.

The Supreme Allied Commander Europe – the top operational commander in the alliance – has only ever been an American, while the US military provides critical elements to any fight such as satellite feeds, electronic warfare jammers and overwhelming mass.

It means a European-only force would be a lot less capable.

The committee – which was assessing the UK’s National Security Strategy, published last June – said it was important for the government to continue to collaborate with the US where practical.

But it must also “develop a clear plan, along with other European allies, for a transition towards greater European leadership of NATO”.

“Preparing for a ‘worst-case scenario’ whereby Europe can no longer rely on US support in the event of a crisis, the Government must work with European partners to invest in its own capabilities to offset this potential withdrawal,” the committee added.

Britain is uniquely exposed to any weakening in this transatlantic bond because of its close security and defence partnership with the US, developed over decades and based on the “special relationship”.

The committee listed areas of particular importance, including the UK’s dependence on the US for maintenance of its Trident missiles, intelligence sharing arrangements, delivery of the F-35 fast jet programme, and a new plan to build attack submarines.

But it warned of the potential for Mr Trump to use any leverage he has against allies if they do something he does not like.

Referring to Britain’s reliance on the US in various defence and security domains, the report said: “There are demonstrable areas of tension in the UK-US relationship that may compromise the reliability of these dependencies in the near future.”

Two people were killed in a missile attack in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, 26 March as the UAE said it was responding to an active missile threat from Iran.

The Abu Dhabi Media Office said that authorities responded to “an incident involving falling debris in Sweihan street, following the successful interception of a ballistic missile by air defence systems.”

The country continues to recover from the temporary closure of airspace earlier this month, which grounded flights and severely disrupted travel plans in the UAE.

Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi say they are gradually resuming some flights to and from its airports.

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has advised against all but essential travel to the UAE as the regional escalation poses “significant security risks”.

Here’s the latest travel advice for the UAE, plus all the key questions and answers.

Read more: LIVE: Iran-US war latest

Is it safe to travel to the UAE?

As of 26 March, the UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates as regional escalation “poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption”.

What is the government advice if you are already there?

British nationals in the UAE, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, have been told to register their presence for updates.

The FCDO has also advised people to stay away from security or military facilities and American or Israeli facilities and institutions.

It adds to follow the instructions of the local authorities and monitor local and international media for the latest information. Britons should read the FCDO’s crisis abroad guidance and sign up to travel advice email alerts.

“Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region such as ports, hotels, roads, bridges, energy facilities, financial institutions, oil production sites, water systems and airports,” the FCDO says.

The FCDO is also advising that “if local authorities advise you to take shelter, stay indoors or move to the nearest safe building immediately.”

“The greatest risk is from falling debris caused by intercepts, and you are safest inside a secure structure. Choose an interior stairwell or a room with as few external walls or windows as possible for additional protection.”

It asks people to also limit movements to essential journeys, and when travel is unavoidable, move in daylight hours, avoid crowded venues, keep your mobile phone with you and charged and let friends or family know where you are going.

“If you are away from your home or hotel, and an attack occurs or you receive an alert from the official UAE warning system, seek shelter in the closest building immediately,” it adds.

British embassies in Abu Dhabi and Dubai “continue to operate as normal”.

Travellers are also reminded that it is illegal to post material, including videos and photographs, online that is “critical of the UAE government, companies or individuals, or which relates to incidents in the UAE”, following the arrest of a British man in Dubai after allegedly filming missiles.

Are flights going to Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

The latest update from Dubai’s main airport (DXB) said: “Dubai Airports confirms the gradual resumption of some flights to and from Dubai International (DXB) to selected destinations.”

DXB told travellers “to check with their airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights.”

A notice from Zayed International said: “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly advised by their airline to do so. Access to the airport will be restricted to confirmed travellers only.”

UAE flag carrier Emirates is currently operating a reduced flight schedule following the partial reopening of regional airspace.

Emirates said in an update: “We continue to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly. We would like to thank you for your understanding and patience.

“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority and will not be compromised.”

Customers booked for travel between 28 February and 15 April will be rebooked on the next available Emirates flight in the event of disruption.

Under air passengers’ rights rules, travellers are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline that has seats available.

How can I get home from the UAE?

The Foreign Office says British travellers should limit movements to “essential journeys only” and “follow the instructions of the local authorities”.

There are a limited number of commercial options available to leave, including air travel from the UAE and Oman.

According to the FCDO: “If your presence in the UAE is not essential, you may wish to consider departing – if you judge you can access these options safely. Check for the latest updates from your airline or tour operator, as well as the instructions from local authorities, and the status of any border crossings before you travel.

“If you are travelling by air, do not travel to the airport unless your airline has confirmed your reservation.”

The Foreign Office adds that travel “within or out of the UAE is at your own risk”.

British nationals attempting to leave via Saudi Arabia on emergency travel documents should call the embassy in Riyadh or Jeddah for advice.

Can I cancel my holiday to the UAE?

Should you decide to cancel a flight ticket, holiday, tour or excursion to the UAE, speak to your travel provider. As the FCDO advises all but essential travel – urgent family or business commitments – to the UAE, you may be able to cancel a package holiday without penalty for a full refund. Package holidays must follow the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, with refunds issued if there has been a “significant change at your destination” before you travel. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the FCDO.

Read more: Middle East flights crisis: 11 answers travellers need as Iran war continues to bring travel chaos