Rush hour warning after Storm Bram 100mph winds and rain cause travel disruption

Thousands of travellers face delays and cancellations on Tuesday as Storm Bram sweeps the UK.

The Met Office has forecast gusts up to 90mph in northwest Scotland and up to 100mm of rain in south Wales and south Devon.

Amber weather warnings have been issued for parts of southwest England, south Wales and the northwest of Scotland, with yellow warnings for wind and rain covering Northern Ireland, Northumberland and parts of northwest England.

Flights, ferry crossings, and rail journeys are all expected to see disruption, as airports ground flights, sailings are suspended, and speed restrictions apply on Scottish railway lines.

British Airways cancelled its first wave of domestic departures from London Heathrow this morning, as Belfast City grounded at least 18 departures and arrivals due to the “adverse weather conditions”.

Dublin airport has also been hit hard, with 73 flights cancelled because of strong winds, including links with Paris and Amsterdam.

MI5 turned blind eye to ‘grotesque’ crimes committed by IRA spy ‘Stakeknife’, report finds

MI5 turned a blind eye to “grotesque” crimes committed by a British spy who infiltrated the IRA during the Troubles, a damning report has found.

Agent Stakeknife worked within the internal security unit of the Provisional IRA, which interrogated people suspected of passing information to the security forces, while sending out his own intelligence reports.

Operation Kenova, launched in 2016 to investigate the agent’s activities, found the Stakeknife, believed to be Freddie Scappaticci, who died aged 77 in 2023, “committed grotesque, serious crime” including torture and murder.

And it said that MI5, which was closely involved with the agent’s handling, had knowledge of all Stakeknife intelligence and “was aware of his involvement in serious criminality”.

Yet Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, speaking at a press conference on Tuesday after the publication of the £47.5m report, said there was no evidence that people were “seeking to stop” what he was doing.

In fact, the report said, there were two incidents when his handlers from the Force Research Unit (FRU) – a British Army intelligence unit – took him out of Northern Ireland for a holiday when they knew he was wanted by police for murder.

Operation Kenova examined 101 murders and abductions linked to the IRA unit where Stakeknife operated. In its interim report last year, it said more lives were probably lost than saved through the operation of Stakeknife.

On Tuesday, Sir Iain Livingstone, who led the investigation, said there was a “compelling ethical case for the UK government” to now drop its Neither Confirm Nor Deny (NCND) policy and name the agent.

It also emerged that previously undisclosed information providing a greater knowledge of Stakeknife was only passed onto the probe by MI5 after the publication of the interim report last year, which was too late for it to be investigated properly. The security agency has apologised.

Crucially, the information coming to the investigation late revealed MI5 close workings with Stakeknife, with it revealing that the agent’s commanding officer briefed MI5 every four to six weeks.

It said: “MI5 had automatic sight of all Stakeknife intelligence and therefore was aware of his involvement in serious criminality.”

Chf Cons Boutcher told the press conference he was unable to give an example of MI5 agents who clearly knew about specific murders, but said they embedded with the Force Research Unit who handled Stakeknife.

He added: “I’ve not seen anything, anything, that shows that the activities of the agent Stakeknife that people were seeking to stop what he was doing. I have not seen anything to suggest that.”

Mr Boutcher, who led the Kenova investigation before taking charge of the PSNI, claimed Scappaticci had been a “critical person of interest” at the heart of Operation Kenova.

“To directly quote a solicitor for the Kenova families who spoke to the BBC in 2024, the dogs in the street know that Fred Scappaticci is the agent Stakeknife,” he said.

But the identity of Stakeknife, who started work in the 1970s and continued as an agent into the 1990s, has not been revealed, including in the operation’s report.

More than 3,000 people died in Northern Ireland during three decades of conflict between mostly Catholic supporters of unification with the Republic of Ireland and mostly Protestant backers of continued links with the United Kingdom.

KRW Law, a legal firm which represents families of some of those murdered by the IRA, said it was “insulting” that Stakeknife has not been publicly named.

A statement said: “It’s a slap in the face by the state at a time when their ought to be the most fulsome of apologies over what was a state-sponsored murder operation lasting from 1979 to 1994.”

Chf Cons Boutcher also urged the government to name the agent, adding that the operative was involved in “the most serious and inexcusable criminality while operating as an agent, including murders”.

He said the actions of the IRA’s internal security unit against their own community were “utterly abhorrent, wrong and inexcusable”.

He said: “The families of those accused of being state agents, women, children and the elderly were also subjected to violence, and many have faced years of intimidation, isolation and humiliation at the hands of those who murdered their loved ones.

The late release by MI5 of additional files relating to Stakeknife was “deeply frustrating”, said Chf Cons Boutcher.

He said: “No new murders were uncovered, but incidents were detailed which could have been put to witnesses generated new lines of inquiry, and perhaps form the basis for submissions to the Director of Public Prosecutions for additional offences. We will never know the full impact of this late discovery.”

MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum apologised, but said the material was not deliberately withheld.

Among the updated 10 recommendations in the report, the UK government has been urged to acknowledge and apologise to bereaved families and surviving victims. It also called for a full apology from the Republican Movement for the Provisional IRA’s abduction, torture and murder of those it suspected of being agents.

On the late discovery of material, he said: “The fact this material was provided so late and at a point when further investigation was impossible only caused further upset to the families who have already waited many years to find out what happened to their loved ones.”

Tuesday’s publication also included a report of Operation Denton, which reviewed a series of attacks carried out by loyalists with involvement by some members of the security forces in the 1970s known as the Glenanne Gang.

It found that the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) was responsible for the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings, and there was no specific intelligence that could have prevented the attacks, which claimed 33 lives.

It remains the biggest loss of life on any single day of the Troubles.

The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in Northern Ireland previously announced that no prosecutions would be pursued after consideration of the last batch of files from the Kenova investigation.

Some 32 people, including former police, former military personnel and people linked with the IRA, were considered for prosecution on a range of charges from murder and abduction to misconduct in public office and perjury.

However, the PPS found there was insufficient evidence to pursue cases.

A No 10 spokesman said: “While I can’t comment in detail on the allegations set out by Kenova due to ongoing litigation, the government is clear that the alleged criminal conduct Operation Kenova has set out in its interim report would not be tolerated today, and of course, we must emphasise that the principal responsibility rests with the Provisional IRA.”

Tony Blair left out of Gaza ‘board of peace’ due to Iraq war history

Sir Tony Blair will not hold a leading position on Gaza’s peace council following objections from Arab states over his role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, according to a report.

The former Labour prime minister had been closely linked to Donald Trump’s plan to rebuild the war-torn Palestinian enclave, unveiled in September.

But Sir Tony, 72, has faced fierce backlash from regional leaders, who harbour deep resentment over his decision to take Britain into the US-led invasion of Iraq to depose tyrant Saddam Hussein.

The Financial Times, citing sources familiar with the discussions, reported that he was quietly being dropped from consideration for a top role, but could still hold a position on the sidelines.

Sir Tony was the only person who had been named as a frontrunner to sit on Mr Trump’s “board of peace” so far. The US president had said in October that he liked the former PM, but still needed to be sure that he had the backing of other states involved in the peace process.

“I’ve always liked Tony, but I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody,” he said at the time, adding: “I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all because I just don’t know that.”

A source told the FT that it was likely Sir Tony would have “a role in a different capacity” – just not as central as planned and probably not on the peace board.

“The Americans like him and the Israelis like him”, but Arab and Muslim leaders in the region have reservations, the source suggested.

It was unclear which specific leaders had raised objections to Sir Tony’s prospective involvement. Earlier this year, there was furious public and political opposition in Egypt to the prospect of him visiting the country, let alone having a role in Gaza’s future.

Kamal Abu Eita, a former Egyptian minister, told The New Arab: “We do not trust Blair at the personal level, a man who is strongly connected with colonial heritage. Egyptians are opposed to all forms of occupation of Gaza, a territory that has to be ruled by its own people only.”

His possible allies have also had muted involvement in the peace process. The UAE, which once allegedly paid the former PM as a consultant while he was working as a peace envoy in the region, has ruled out involvement in implementing a Gaza stabilisation force for now.

Sir Tony remains controversial at home and in the Middle East over the decision to take Britain into the US-led invasion of Iraq to depose Hussein.

Huge rallies formed in London, Amman, Beirut and Cairo in 2003 to protest British involvement as his popularity sank to minus-20 points at home.

Sir John Chilcot’s report into the invasion later concluded that the prime minister had overstated the threat posed by Hussein, and the invasion was not the “last resort” presented to the public and parliament, deepening his unpopularity.

Iraq’s neighbours suffered from the deep insecurity left in Iraq after the ousting of Hussein, as violent jihadist groups like Isis emerged in the power vacuum and regional powers tussled for influence.

Sir Tony left politics in 2007 as his popularity at home crumbled and took a position as representative to the Quartet, an international body overseeing the peace process between Israel and Palestine.

He stayed in the position until 2015, despite strong accusations of pro-Israel bias by Palestinian officials. His Institute for Global Change later came under fire, too, as it emerged that it continued to advise the Saudi government after the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Two men charged over Heathrow ‘pepper-spray’ incident

Two men have been charged with robbery and administering a noxious substance after an incident at Heathrow airport on Sunday.

Tyrone Richards, 31, and Anton Clarke-Butcher, 24, have each been charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of administering a noxious substance, HM Courts and Tribunal Service staff said.

They are due to appear at Hillingdon Magistrates’ Court charged with robbery on Tuesday.

The Metropolitan Police said it has made a number of arrests in connection with the incident.

Three more people were arrested on Monday, including a 23-year-old woman on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery, who was later released on bail pending further enquiries.

A 57-year-old woman was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery and was later released under investigation, and a 31-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of affray and remains in custody.

Police were called to a multi-storey car park opposite Terminal 3 at 8.11am on Sunday after receiving reports that a number of people had been injured by a noxious substance.

London Ambulance Service treated 21 people, and five people were taken to the hospital, but have since been discharged. Among those injured was a three-year-old girl.

Prior to the assault, two women were robbed of their suitcases after getting out of the car park lift. The men who robbed them sprayed a substance believed to be pepper spray in the direction of the women, which then affected others nearby.

The assault sparked chaos for many travellers as several trains and buses to the airport were delayed, with several people reportedly stuck at the airport’s bus stops for hours.

At least 17 trains serving Heathrow Terminals 2 and 3 were cancelled, or ran through without stopping.

Adult content creator Bonnie Blue detained in Bali over porn charges

Former OnlyFans creator Bonnie Blue has been detained in Indonesia for allegedly producing pornographic content in violation of the Muslim-majority country’s morality laws.

Ms Blue, 26, a British adult content creator whose real name is Tia Billinger, faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail and a fine of about £270,000 if convicted.

The creator, known for organising controversial sex “challenges” with large groups of young men, was arrested during a police raid on a rental studio in Bali on Thursday.

The raid followed public complaints that she had hired a bus to travel around the resort island to film explicit material during “schoolies week”, a post-high-school celebration similar to Freshers’ Week in the UK, with more than a dozen men.

Her group included at least 17 male tourists aged 19 to 40, of British and Australian nationalities, police said.

The police released 14 of them, all Australians, without charge, but held an Australian man and two Britons in custody a little longer.

Ms Blue was also released, but her passport remained seized, and she was transferred to immigration authorities for further interrogation over the next 48 hours.

Police said Ms Blue’s group were allegedly creating “content containing pornographic or immoral elements”.

Indonesia has strict laws banning the production, distribution and public display of pornographic material, with harsher penalties for offences involving minors.

Authorities said they seized “school Bonnie Blue” outfits, cameras, condoms, flash drives, lubricant, pink necklaces, and two sheets of Viagra pills from the studio.

“It is suspected that the place was used by the alleged perpetrator to produce pornographic videos,” Badung police chief M Arif Batubara told reporters.

Ms Blue was visiting Indonesia for the first time, according to intelligence and immigration enforcement office chief Raja Ulul Azmi, as reported by DetikBali.

He said Ms Blue and her group had obtained visas on arrival in Bali, a facility available to foreigners travelling to Indonesia for tourism.

Ms Blue, one Australian man and two Britons were due to be questioned further on Wednesday, he added.

Mr Raja Ulul said officials were deciding how to proceed with the case that was being handled by the immigration department as well as the Bali police.

Ms Blue had announced her Bali visit on social media, writing: “Hey boys, those that’re going to Schoolies and to those who are barely legal, cannot wait to meet you – and I’m in Bali, so you know exactly what that means.”

Ms Blue is known for performing controversial stunts, and was banned from OnlyFans earlier this year after making headlines for reportedly sleeping with 1,057 men in just 12 hours. The stunt, if verified, would surpass the record set in 2004 by Lisa Sparxxx, who had sex with 919 men in 24 hours.

Winter Warning: Flu is not just a bad cold

As winter sets in and viruses circulate more easily in our homes, workplaces and public spaces, the NHS is encouraging people aged 18 to 64 with long-term health conditions to get their flu vaccine. Many don’t realise they’re eligible, or that their condition puts them at greater risk of serious complications if they catch flu.

Flu is not a bad cold. It’s a contagious respiratory virus that can cause high fever, body aches and exhaustion lasting for weeks. But for people with certain long-term conditions, it can also trigger severe complications such as pneumonia, bronchitis or organ failure.

The statistics are stark. Those with respiratory diseases like severe asthma or COPD are seven times more likely to die if they catch the flu. People with diabetes are six times more likely, and those with heart disease are 11 times more likely. For anyone with a weakened immune system, the risk rises even higher.

In 2022–23 alone, more than 49,000 people were hospitalised with flu, and 2,000 were admitted to intensive care in England. The majority of severe cases involved people with underlying conditions, many of whom thought flu “wasn’t a big deal.”

Many people with long-term health conditions manage them well and may not think of themselves as vulnerable. But flu can place a sudden strain on the body and make existing conditions harder to control. Someone with severe asthma, for example, may experience severe attacks; those with diabetes can find their blood sugar levels become unstable; and for people with heart or kidney disease, flu can significantly increase the risk of hospitalisation.

Because flu viruses change from year to year, immunity from previous infections or vaccines doesn’t last, so getting vaccinated annually is the best way to stay protected.

Flu vaccines are available free of charge for eligible people at most GP practices and participating pharmacies, and booking takes just a few minutes. You can book online at nhs.uk/book-flu, through your GP surgery, on the NHS APP or by visiting your local pharmacy directly.

The vaccine cannot give you the flu, and side effects are generally mild: a sore arm or slight fatigue for a day or two. What it can do is reduce your risk of getting the flu and, if you do catch it, make your symptoms milder and recovery faster. Studies show that people with eligible conditions are nearly half as likely to be hospitalised with flu if they’ve been vaccinated.

Vaccination doesn’t just protect the individual, either; it helps protect everyone. When fewer people catch and spread the virus, it reduces pressure on hospitals and helps shield those who are most vulnerable, such as older relatives, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

In a busy winter full of colds, coughs and competing priorities, booking a flu jab can easily slip down the list. But for millions of people living with long-term health conditions, it could be the difference between a short recovery at home and a serious illness requiring hospital treatment.

Getting vaccinated is quick, safe and effective, and one of the simplest ways to protect your health this winter.

Check if you’re eligible and book your NHS flu vaccine today here

Salah saga rolls on as Liverpool face Champions League test at Inter without talisman

Liverpool‘s bewildering season continues with a trip to Inter Milan in the Champions League tonight as the fallout from Mohamed Salah’s explosive interview continues.

The Egyptian has been omitted from the Reds’ travelling squad after claiming he had been thrown under the bus at Anfield and stating that he no longer had a relationship with manager Arne Slot.

And those comments, and indeed doubts over the Egyptian’s future at Anfield, are hanging over the club as they face a tough test at the San Siro, with Slot’s side hoping to put one foot in the next round of the competition with a win.

The Reds sit 13th in the league phase table but they are just three points behind fourth-placed Inter, who themselves could nearly secure a place in the top eight with a home win this evening.

Follow all the latest build-up, team news and updates from the San Siro below:

Trump hits out at ‘vicious’ Sadiq Khan as he reignites feud with London mayor

Donald Trump has reignited his long-running feud with Sir Sadiq Khan, branding him a “horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor” as he criticised immigration to the UK.

In an extraordinary interview, the US president singled out the London mayor, calling him a “disaster” and suggesting he has done a “terrible job”.

He said of Mr Khan, the city’s first Muslim mayor, whose parents came from Pakistan: “He gets elected because so many people have come in [to the UK]. They vote for him now.

“He’s a horrible mayor. He’s an incompetent mayor, but he’s a horrible, vicious, disgusting mayor. I think he’s done a terrible job. London’s a different place. I love London. I love London. And I hate to see it happen.”

Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked Sir Sadiq since 2015, when the Labour politician condemned the then presidential hopeful’s suggestion of a Muslim travel ban to the US.

In September, he described Sir Sadiq as one of “the worst mayors in the world” and claimed that London wants to “go to sharia law”.

The London mayor hit back at the president, accusing him of being “racist, sexist, misogynistic and Islamophobic”.

Meanwhile, Trump also denounced Europe as a “decaying” group of nations led by “weak” people in the interview with Politico.

“I think they’re weak,” he said. “But I also think that they want to be so politically correct.”

“I think they don’t know what to do,” he added. “Europe doesn’t know what to do.”

He also described cities like London and Paris as struggling with migration from Africa and the Middle East. Without reforms to border policies, he said, some European states “will not be viable countries any longer”.

No 10 later rejected the charge that the UK was decaying but did not defend Mr Khan, pointing instead to what it said was the PM’s “strong” relationship with the president.

Asked if the UK was decaying, Sir Keir’s official spokesperson said “no”, although he said the British people had voted for was change at the last election. On Mr Khan, he said the PM “has a strong relationship with the president and the mayor of London”.

In September, on a state visit to the UK, Mr Trump said that his administration had prevented “millions” of people from coming over the border to the US, adding that migration “destroys countries from within”.

“We had millions of people coming in, totally unchecked, totally undetected from the Biden administration,” he told reporters. “[About] 25 million, in my opinion, that would be about 25 million. They came from prisons. They came from mental institutions. They were gang members … they came from everywhere.”

Turning to Sir Keir, he added: “I think your situation is very similar. You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn’t matter if you call out the military, it doesn’t matter what means you use.

“It destroys countries from within, and we’re actually now removing a lot of the people that came into our country.”

In September, Mr Trump told Sir Keir Starmer to use the military to end the small boats crisis, warning the PM that illegal migration can “destroy” countries.