Ayatollah Khamenei will ‘flee Iran for Moscow’ if protests overwhelm security forces

Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has a plan to flee the country for Russia if ongoing protests in the country overwhelm his security forces, according to a report.

The 86-year-old will escape Tehran with up to 20 aides and family if it becomes clear that the army and security forces tasked with suppressing the protests are defecting or failing to follow orders, an intelligence source told The Times.

“The ‘plan B’ is for Khamenei and his very close circle of associates and family, including his son and nominated heir apparent, Mojtaba,” the source said.

At least 17 people had been killed during the protests as of Monday, according to human rights groups. The protests have largely focused on the collapse of the country’s currency, with some demonstrators calling for the overthrow of the Ayatollah.

Mr Khamenei would likely flee to Moscow as it is his only remaining option, according to Beni Sabti, an operative who served in Israeli intelligence for decades before fleeing the regime eight years following the Islamic revolution in 1979.

The Ayatollah “admires Putin, while the Iranian culture is more similar to the Russian culture”, and he would therefore choose Russia if he were forced to flee the country, the source said.

His plan includes an “exit route out of Tehran should they feel the need to escape” and includes “gathering assets, properties abroad and cash to facilitate their safe passage”, according to the newspaper.

Tehran’s efforts to quell a wave of anti-government protests have so far been unsuccessful, and are now further complicated by Donald Trump’s threat to intervene on behalf of the protests. His warning was firmly underlined by the subsequent US capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, officials and insiders said on Monday.

But the protests do not yet match the scale of unrest that swept the nation in 2022-23 over the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in the custody of Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the hijab law.

The protests have nonetheless expanded quickly from an economic focus to broader frustrations, with some protesters chanting “Down with the Islamic Republic” or “Death to the dictator”, a reference to Mr Khamenei.

Authorities have said protests over the economy are legitimate and will be met by dialogue, but have reacted with brutal force. Human rights groups accuse the regime’s security forces of “indiscriminate targeting of civilians”.

Widening disparities between ordinary Iranians and a privileged clerical and security elite, compounded by mismanagement, high inflation and corruption, have fuelled public anger.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged dialogue and promised reforms to stabilise the monetary and banking systems and protect purchasing power.

Warning of unemployment rise as costs force ‘zombie’ companies to shut

UK unemployment levels hit the highest levels since Covid at the end of last year – but it could get even worse in 2026, experts have warned.

In the three months to October, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data showed unemployment hit 5.1 per cent – up from 4.3 per cent a year earlier – highlighting the rise of joblessness across the year.

That rate could now continue to surge in 2026 as a host of businesses coming under relentless cost pressures are forced to close.

Years of higher interest rates, rising employment costs, high energy bills and inflation pushing raw materials and service costs up have all contributed to making conditions extremely tough for companies.

That combination might “kill off” so-called zombie companies in the coming months, says one expert. Zombie companies is the term given to businesses which have struggled along and are unable to grow or adapt, but have not yet completely shut down as they earn just enough to keep surviving.

While businesses closing down is not generally seen as a positive, the closure of some firms leads to other newer, more innovative ones taking their place – which can, in time, lead to a productivity upturn and improve economic conditions in the long run. But, in the meantime, jobs will be lost from those shutting down.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “There are early and encouraging signs of a mild zombie apocalypse, where higher interest rates and minimum wages have combined to kill off struggling firms and leave the door open for new, more productive ones to replace them.

“But while this is good news for our medium-term economic prospects, the short-term impact could be job displacement and higher unemployment. Policymakers will need to redouble efforts to address this problem.”

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of economists surveyed believe unemployment will be between 5 and 5.5 per cent come the end of 2026, a Times report shows.

That would be the highest since 2015 (5.6 per cent) if it reached the top end of that range when the unemployment rate was in the middle of descending from a 2011 peak of 8.4 per cent.

Many firms paused or cancelled plans to recruit new talent towards the back end of 2025 amid the uncertainty of Rachel Reeves’ Budget and the cost implications of hiring.

That came after rises earlier in the year to National Insurance contributions, as well as the minimum wage.

As an aside to overall job levels, there are several factors pointing towards young people bearing the brunt of the damage when it comes to finding work.

ONS data showed unemployed 18- to 24-year-olds increased by 85,000 across the three months to October, the largest such rise in three years.

The government’s pledge to create a single cost of employment for all adults, rather than the two-tier system currently in place where 18 to 20-year-olds are paid a lower minimum wage, has also seen business leaders predicting that companies will simply stop hiring inexperienced younger people as it will not be cheaper than employing experienced workers.

After Venezuela it will be even harder to change the US president’s mind

The rather muted response from Western leaders to Donald Trump’s extraordinary seizure of Nicolas Maduro over the weekend was predictable. We are still at a point in geopolitics where no one wants to upset the Trump administration.

Most of America’s Western allies declined to criticise Trump and instead celebrated the end of the Maduro era, going only so far as to urge restraint from the White House over what comes next. The fact that Maduro is an internationally recognised wrong’un certainly made it easier to clap along.

But the overriding priority has been to avoid the ire of a thin-skinned man who, for better or worse, leads a nation that remains the most important player in what is left of the Western world order.

Whatever personal reservations one may have about Trump and his way of doing business, there is no country on earth that matches the United States in terms of combined military might, economic power and diplomatic influence. For its historic allies, particularly in Europe, remaining on friendly terms with Trump is viewed as critical to national security and stability. Whatever petulant outburst emanates from the White House, it is far easier to manage Trump and bring him around to your way of thinking while on friendly terms than on hostile ones.

That, at least, has been the calculation. Until now. Trump 2.0, however, might be slowly changing the equation.

Understandable panic has set in across Denmark after Trump repeated his view: “We [the US] do need Greenland, absolutely. We need it for defence.” This prompted the Danish prime minister to remind Trump that it is a Nato ally, and to request that he stop issuing threats. Those threats, if you need reminding, include his claim that America will “get” Greenland, “one way or the other”. Trump has previously made similar remarks about Canada, suggesting it should become the 51st state through annexation.

While annexing Canada or invading a Danish territory may seem a very different kettle of fish from toppling a South American dictator, deposing Maduro should give America’s allies serious pause.

Trump has now demonstrated that he is willing to use military force to follow through on his threats. Over time, he has become more single-minded and increasingly erratic. He also appears more willing to confront his anti-interventionist base when it suits him. This should worry allies for whom he already harbours a thinly veiled contempt.

Trump might not invade a Nato nation outright, but that does not mean he cannot destabilise the entire Western order. His repeated threats to walk away from Ukraine, pull funding from Nato and support for nationalist causes across Europe must now be taken at face value.

There comes a point where the scales tip and the benefits of subservience to the US are outweighed by the risks. We have learned the hard way that relying on it for security leaves us at the mercy of a Trump temper tantrum. We also know that he is willing to punish countries economically for daring to compete with US industry, even when doing so harms American consumers.

We are approaching that point. The rest of the West must stop worrying so much about pleasing Trump and start thinking far more clearly about our own interests. It is not impossible to stand up to Trump and his weaponisation of American power, but doing so will require rock-solid unity. There will, of course, be those willing to break ranks to curry special favour with Trump, but they must be reminded that the US is polygamous when it comes to special relationships.

Proponents of American exceptionalism once argued that US values of liberty, democracy and meritocracy made the country a unique force for good in the world. Under Trump 2.0, that exceptionalism means something rather different. And just because we are friends with America does not mean we are obliged to go along with it.

Deaths set to outnumber births ‘in new era’ leading to higher taxes

The UK faces a “turning point” this year, with the number of deaths to outnumber births by ever-greater margins for the next 50 years, a think tank has predicted.

The impact, the Resolution Foundation said, will leave the country relying on immigration for population growth – just six months after the Office for National Statistics projected migration would drive a 5.9 per cent population increase by 2032.

But recent figures showing a fall in levels of migration to the UK, combined with the shift in ratio of births and deaths and rises in public spending, mean the think tank is warning of fewer people of working age, higher taxes and a more fragile political landscape.

In a statement to The Independent, Greg Thwaites, co-author of the think tank’s report called New Year Outlook 2026, said: “2026 could be a turning point year as deaths start to outnumber births so that, without immigration, the population would start to shrink.

“This may shift the conversation on migration away from arguments over whether the country is already ‘full’ and onto whether we want to address population decline. However, migration policy, and how much it should prioritise economic growth over other considerations, is likely to remain politically charged.”

The Resolution Foundation’s report said the number of births in the country had exceeded deaths almost every year since the turn of the 20th Century, except for 2020 due to the Covid pandemic, and again in 2023.

But after births just outweighed deaths in 2024, and are expected to “by an even narrower margin” last year, the body said, the experts behind the report say the figures show a trend whereby deaths will overtake births in the long term.

It warned that deaths could outnumber births by 100,000 annually by the mid-2040s.

Co-authored by Ruth Curtice, the report said: “These outturns [previous years’ figures on births and deaths] suggest that 2026 may be the first year in a new era when deaths exceed births by an ever-widening margin, forever closing a chapter in the demographics of this country that opened over a century ago.

“From then on, any population growth we do get is set to come from international net migration, which the latest data suggest is also plummeting, down by three-quarters from its recent peak to around 200,000 a year.”

Latest Office for National Statistics figures show fertility rates – the average number of children women would expect to have – plummeted to a record low of 1.4 in England and Wales in 2024. UK-wide rates have dropped more than any other G7 nation.

Nearly half of British adults are putting off or deciding against having children, with money worries a top factor, an Ipsos poll revealed last year.

A fall in the working-age population, which pays for elderly care and pensions, can provide a threat to public finances, the Office for Budget Responsibility has previously said.

In its outlook, the Resolution Foundation also questioned whether the government would bring down public spending to shrink the budget deficit, while forecasting a continuing low growth rate in average incomes, with a “nowhere-near-good-enough outlook for living standards”.

However, the report said child poverty will fall sharply following the abolition of the two-child benefit cap.

Under pressure from the rise of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to cut net migration to the UK, claiming record high figures in 2023 had put housing and public services under too much strain.

“Taken together, these trends point to a country in the middle of a slow but consequential transition: fewer people of working age; a more fragile politics; higher taxes; and an economy that urgently needs new firms and new jobs to replace the old,” said the Resolution Foundation’s report.

“The story of 2026 is not one of crisis, but of drift finally giving way to change. Whether that change is managed or merely endured is the question that will define the years ahead.”

A spokesperson for the government would not comment on tax speculation, but said: “We are driving growth through a record £120bn in new capital spending, and bearing down on inflation, helping to support the Bank of England cut interest rates six times since the election.

“The budget doubled down on our work to grow the economy and create good jobs by maintaining the cap on corporation tax at 25 per cent, the lowest rate in the G7, supporting our high streets with permanently lower tax rates and making it easier for start-ups to scale and invest in the UK.”

Europe hits back after US threats to seize Greenland

Europe has hit back after Donald Trump threatened to annex Greenland, days after toppling Venezuela’s leadership with the shock capture of President Nicolas Maduro.

The American leader said the Arctic island is “so strategic right now” and that annexation would benefit both the European Union and the US.

“We do need Greenland, absolutely,” he told The Atlantic, sparking waves of condemnation across Europe. “We need it for defence.”

Mr Trump has had his eyes on the territory since 2019 when he first publicly floated the idea of purchasing the country from Denmark, which runs it as an autonomous and self-governing entity.

His comments drew widespread backlash from the EU, and European countries including Nato members France, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Poland, Norway, Finland and Iceland, which emphasised their vehement opposition to the plan.

“The EU will continue to uphold the principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” EU spokesperson, Anitta Hipper, said on Monday.

“These are universal principles, and we will not stop defending them, all the more so if the territorial integrity of a member state of the European Union is questioned.”

The comments come amid a string of barely veiled threats to a host of other countries over the weekend as Mr Trump warned Mexico to “get its act together” and effectively told Colombian president Gustavo Petro that his country could be the next to face military action.

The US leader also suggested that Cuba was “ready to fall” and may not need US intervention.

Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Mr Trump’s statements about Greenland should not be dismissed as bluster and must be taken seriously.

“Unfortunately, I think the American president should be taken seriously when he says he wants Greenland,” she told public broadcaster, DR.

“I have made it very clear where the Kingdom of Denmark stands, and Greenland has repeatedly said that it does not want to be part of the United States.

“If the United States attacks another Nato country, everything stops.”

The UN Security Council held an emergency session on Monday as UN chief António Guterres said the US had set a “dangerous precedent” for the world order after its actions in Venezuela. He told ambassadors that respect for national sovereignty “political independence and territorial integrity” must be maintained.

Greenland prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen urged Trump to give up “fantasies of annexation”, stating that his country was “not for sale”.

“Threats, pressure and talk of annexation have no place between friends,” Mr Nielsen wrote in a social media post on Monday.

“That is not how you speak to a people who have shown responsibility, stability and loyalty time and again. Enough is enough. No more pressure. No more innuendo. No more fantasies about annexation.”

He added that the country was “open to dialogue” via appropriate channels but not “random and disrespectful posts on social media”.

“Greenland is our home and our territory. And that is how it will remain,” he added.

The country holds a largely untapped wealth of natural resources including oil and gas as well as natural earth minerals, zinc, copper, nickel and graphite. Its geographical location positioned between the North American Arctic and Europe.

UK prime minister Keir Starmer backed PM Frederiksen, saying: “I stand with her, and she’s right about the future of Greenland.”

Mr Starmer agreed with Danish calls for Mr Trump to stop proposing annexation, as he added: “Denmark is a close ally in Europe, it is a Nato ally, and it’s very important the future of Greenland is, as I say, for the Kingdom of Denmark, and for Greenland, and only for Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark.”

‘Tis the season to connect: How to maximise your mobile

Our mobile phones are a vital part of our everyday lives, providing us with connection, entertainment and information. We rely on the device in our pocket to help us work, socialise, learn and so much more – so we want to make sure we’re getting the most we can from it.

Tesco Mobile’s new Pay as you go Essentials tariff can help you do just that, offering increased flexibility and benefits. It keeps things simple and lets you add 30-day bundles of data, minutes and texts that best suit your needs.

The tariff will replace Rocket Pack, Triple Credit and Lite tariffs for all existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customers.

Customers who prefer traditional Pay as you go can continue to use top-up balance for calls, texts and data at the standard rate: 25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB.*

So whether you’re an existing Tesco Mobile customer or thinking of making the switch, here’s seven reasons why Pay as you go Essentials is the perfect option…

We all use our phones differently. For some, it’s all about streaming favourite shows and music, so having enough data is vital. Others just want to be able to text and call friends and family whenever they want. Tesco Mobile make it easy to find the right Pay as you go Essentials bundle for your needs. New customers can choose the best bundle for their needs, with bundles auto-renewing every 30 days using available top-up balance.

Circumstances can change and you might find yourself needing more data or minutes some months than others. Depending on how much you use your phone, a bundle is often more cost-effective than using your top-up balance and being charged standard rates for calls, texts and data usage. Pay as you go Essentials is a flexible top-up tariff designed to give users full control over their spend, letting them add bundles of data, minutes and texts to suit specific needs. You can change your bundle as often as you like or cancel at any time. If you decide to opt-out of a bundle you can continue to use your top-up balance for calls, text and data at the standard out-of-bundle rate (25p per minute, 10p per text, 10p per MB).

Pay as you go Essentials offers a range of five great-value bundle options that all include data, minutes and texts. Pay as you go Essentials bundles start from just £5 for 30 days (minimum £10 top-up at activation), while every bundle from £10 and up includes unlimited calls and texts (subject to Fair Usage Policy) – making it easy and affordable to stay connected. If you’re an existing Tesco Mobile Pay as you go customer you’ll get a free 30 day Essentials bundle based on your previous use so you can see if its the right one for you.

The new Tesco Mobile app is packed with useful features to help you make the most of your Pay as you go phone. It’s a quick and simple way to manage or change your bundles, check usage, top-up your balance change auto-renew settings and more. You can easily see your remaining data, minutes and texts, so you know whether you need to add a new or different bundle. Need a hand with something? Chat with the customer care team via live in-app messaging. This is a new app for Pay as you go customers, and customers will no longer be able to use their old Tesco Mobile Pay as you go apps.

Phone calls cutting out, videos buffering, texts that don’t send… an unreliable phone signal can be hugely frustrating. Tesco Mobile shares O2’s network, which means 99 per cent UK coverage, and a better connection in hard-to-reach rural areas – so you won’t be searching for a signal. Tesco Mobile’s 4G and 5G networks are constantly being improved, and with Pay as you go Essentials, customers can use 4G Calling (also known as VoLTE) means you’ll use your 4G connection to make and receive calls, enjoying clearer calls. You can find this option in your network settings.

With Tesco Mobile, you get a Clubcard point for every £1 you spend. Just link your Clubcard to your phone (text the word CLUBCARD to 28578 free from your Tesco Mobile phone) and watch the points add up. You can then convert your points to vouchers to save on your weekly grocery shop or exchange the vouchers for Reward Partner codes to save money on meals out, entertainment, day trips, travel and more. For a limited time, Tesco Mobile customers can get 500 Clubcard points every time they add a £15 Pay as you go Essentials bundle when they link their Clubcard within the first 28 days of adding the bundle. Clubcard points will be automatically issued within 30 days.

For more information on Tesco Mobile’s Pay as you go Essentials, including all available bundles, visit Tesco Mobile

*Offer ends 01/02/2026. See Terms And Conditions for full terms.

Duke of Marlborough denies strangling estranged wife

The Duke of Marlborough has denied strangling his estranged wife on three occasions.

Charles James Spencer-Churchill, a relative of Sir Winston Churchill and Diana, Princess of Wales, appeared in court on Monday, charged with three intentional strangulation offences against Edla Marlborough between November 2022 and May 2024.

Court documents say the three charges of non-fatal intentional strangulation against his estranged wife are alleged to have taken place in Woodstock, Oxfordshire.

He appeared before High Wycombe Magistrates’ Court for a plea hearing on Monday.

Wearing a dark suit with a blue tie, Spencer-Churchill spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, as well as giving his home address as Blenheim Palace, before indicating he would plead not guilty to all three alleged offences.

The court was told that Spencer-Churchill is accused of striking Ms Marlborough “several times” and strangling her on 13 November 2022, following an argument in the garden of their property.

Spencer-Churchill is also accused of grabbing Ms Marlborough in a laundry room, hitting her with a closed fist and strangling her on 23 April 2023.

The final allegation is that Spencer-Churchill threw Ms Marlborough onto a bed after putting his hands around her neck on 29 January 2024.

Spencer-Churchill was granted conditional bail and will appear at Oxford Crown Court on 5 February.

Known to his family as Jamie, he is the 12th Duke of Marlborough and a member of one of Britain’s most aristocratic families.

Related to wartime prime minister Sir Winston – a first cousin, three times removed – and also distantly to Diana through the Spencer line, Spencer-Churchill inherited his dukedom in 2014, following the death of his father, the 11th Duke of Marlborough.

Prior to this, the twice-married Spencer-Churchill was the Marquess of Blandford, and also known as Jamie Blandford.

The duke married his second wife, Welsh ceramicist Edla Griffiths, in 2002 but they separated in 2024.

His ancestral family home is the 300-year-old Blenheim Palace – Sir Winston’s birthplace – in Woodstock, but the duke does not own the 18th-century baroque palace and has no role in the running of the residence and vast estate.

Blenheim is owned and managed by the Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation.

A spokesperson for the foundation previously said: “Blenheim Palace Heritage Foundation is aware legal proceedings have been brought against the Duke of Marlborough.

“The foundation is unable to comment on the charges, which relate to the duke’s personal conduct and private life, and which are subject to live criminal proceedings.

“The foundation is not owned or managed by the Duke of Marlborough, but by independent entities run by boards of trustees.”

‘Fake Admiral’ pleads guilty to dressing in navy uniform for Remembrance Sunday service

A man has pleaded guilty to dressing up as an admiral during a Remembrance Sunday event in North Wales.

Jonathan Carley attended a wreath-laying service in Llandudno on 9 November wearing uniform bearing the mark of His Majesty’s Forces without permission.

The 64-year-old from Harlech was arrested after he was spotted wearing “the uniform and medals of a high-ranking navy officer” and his image was circulated online.

Concerns were raised by other former and serving personnel in attendance with Llandudno Town Council, which organised the Remembrance event, confirming that no-one of the senior rank had been due to attend the ceremony.

He later told police the naval uniform was issued to him legitimately when he was in the cadets but he had rear admiral rings added by a tailor and he had bought medals online.

During an appearance at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded guilty and has been fined £500 and ordered to pay £85 towards prosecution costs and a £200 surcharge.

District Judge Gwyn Jones said: “It’s a sad reflection upon you that you chose to do such a thing on a very difficult day for so many.”

Jams Neary, prosecuting, said at the “well attended” service, Carley wore medals including for service in Iraq and Syria and approached organisers to introduce himself.

He said: “The defendant was allowed to lay a wreath. He did so, he saluted and stood among other dignitaries.”

His photograph later went viral on social media and when he was arrested on November 14, he told police: “I’ve been expecting you.”

In interview, he told police he had wanted a sense of “belonging and affirmation”.

Sentencing Carley, the judge said: “It should have been a genuine opportunity to remember and to think about the lives of all those who have served the country and their community, with so many people not being able to be there.

“You were there not as a genuine person but as someone who came to deceive and create a falsehood.

“Your actions totally disrespect the memories of all those persons who have fallen and causes a great deal of pain to families.”

Mark Haslam, defending, said it was a “very sad case”.

He said: “He wanted to be a part of the proceedings. He wanted to play a part. He accepts through me that his way of playing a part was totally inappropriate.”

He said Carley, a man of previous good character, was “extremely respectful” during the course of the ceremony.

He said the defendant “seriously underestimated” the anxiety, anger and distress his actions would cause and had since been “publicly humiliated”.

Leaving court, Carley did not answer questions from reporters but stood next to Mr Haslam as he delivered a short statement.

Mr Haslam said: “My client would like to reiterate his apologies to all of those who have been affected by what he did. As we made clear in court, he is utterly remorseful and he accepts the sentence of the court.”