UK Column News - 18th December 2024

Source: ukcolumn

Mike Robinson, Charles Malet and Vanessa Beeley with today’s UK Column News.

 

Arctic Front Lines: The West’s Polar Escalation Against Russia and China

00:25 UK Prime Minister (on X): 10DowningStreet’s post

The first duty of the government is to keep the country safe. Norway is an important defence and security partner to the UK, and a critical supporter of European security.

NATO (2019): Questions and answers by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the ”NATO Engages: Innovating the Alliance” conference 

This is not about moving NATO into the South China Sea, but it is about taking into account that China is coming closer to us […]

NATO: Steadfast Defender 2024

UK Parliament: Our friends in the North: UK strategy towards the Arctic

European Leadership Network: Countering Russia’s hybrid threats in the Arctic

Ministry for Foreign Affairs Finland: Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States (DCA)

GOV.UK: Foreign Secretary calls on NATO Allies to spend and produce more in the face of Russian aggression

Government Offices of Sweden: Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United States

NATO: De-bunking Russian disinformation on NATO

 

HTS in Syria: “Moderate Rebel” Realities and the Diplomacy of Expedience

8:06 BBC: Iran: CNN cancels interview with Iranian president over headscarf demand

CNN (YouTube): Syrian rebel leader says goal is to overthrow Assad regime

U.S. Department of State (2020): The Islamic Republic of Iran—A Dangerous Regime

Syrians for Truth and Justice: Between Reformist Discourse and Actual Repression: How Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham Handled Idlib Protests

Syrians for Truth and Justice (2020): Another Wave of Summary Executions by HTS in Idlib

Le Monde: Syria: Video shows summary execution of Assad regime henchmen

BBC: BBC sees crowd surge over rumoured execution of Assad henchman

Townhall: The Shadow of the Gallows Looms Over Iran

Sign of the Times (2016): U.S.-backed “not terrorist” group Ahrar al-Sham commits massacre in Zarah, slaughters women and children (Archived)

BBC: Life in Idlib hints at what Syria can expect from rebel rule

Richard Medhurst (on X): I was arrested at Heathrow Airport under the Terrorism Act, Sec 12 because of my reporting

Legislation: Terrorism Act 2000, Section 12

 

Sharply Increased British Police Funding and New Strategies for Counter-Terrorism

24:12 HMICFRS (Inspectorate of Constabulary, England & Wales): An inspection of the police response to the public disorder in July and August 2024: Tranche 1

UK Parliament: Provisional Police Grant Report (England and Wales) 2025-26

I am pleased to announce that, for 2025-26, funding to police forces will total up to £17.4 billion, an increase of up to £986.9 million when compared to the 2024-25 police funding settlement—a significant increase, and more than the increase set out for 2024-25.

GOV.UK: Government outlines new action to tackle radicalisation

The government is increasing funding for counter-terror police by £140 million next year, and for the UK Intelligence Community by £499 million, taking their funding to a record level.

GOV.UK: UK unveils funding boost to help forest nations fight climate change 

Government pledges £239 million funding to halt and reverse deforestation in forest-rich nations, supporting global efforts to tackle climate change

 

UK Column Is Member-Funded—Your Support Matters

30:39 Support Independent Journalism from the UK Column with only £5 a month

Access UKC News Extra Today—UK Column Community

UK Column shop: Category: UK Column Membership Gift Voucher

New UK Column series collection: Farming

New UK Column series collection: Syria

 

BBC: Now ‘Mandatory Viewing’—The Government’s Newest Must-Watch Policy

32:34 Ofcom: Ofcom Annual Report on the BBC 2023 2024 (PDF)

GOV.UK: New plans to ensure the BBC’s financial sustainability set out by the Culture Secretary 

The broadcaster now faces increased global competition from streaming giants, changing viewing habits and a decline in licence fee income of more than 30 per cent.

BBC: TV licence fee to rise by £5 to £174.50 in 2025

 

Syrian Asylum Applications Halted Amidst Post-Assad Uncertainty

37:54 Reuters: European countries halt Syrian asylum applications after Assad’s fall (Archived)

EuroNews: Austria offers Syrians €1,000 ‘return bonus’ as Europe suspends asylum claims 

 

Fake Trees, Real Climate Fraud: The Scams Behind ‘Sustainable’ and Green Investments

40:06 Ecochain: Real vs. Fake Trees: How Sustainable is Your Christmas Tree?

GOV.UK: Forestry Commission: Funding for farmers, growers and land managers

CSHT pays farmers and land managers to manage land in a way that:

• protects, restores or enhances the environment
• mitigates the effects of climate change

Gresham House: Strong institutional demand for natural capital investments, new research reveals

 

Britain Becomes One Of Those Tinpot Regimes That Delay Democracy: Devolution White Paper—Cancelled Elections and Regional Control

44:47 GOV.UK: English Devolution White Paper (PDF)

UK Column series: One World Government

 

Bird Flu and PCR Tests: The Poultry Slaughter Crisis and the Overlooked Cereal Crop Spray Controversy

49:10 GOV.UK: Bird flu (avian influenza): latest situation in England

ArcGIS Online: APHA Interactive Avian Influenza Disease Map

BBC Countryfile: Guide to the farming calendar: a year in the life of a British farmer

Cereal crops, such as wheat and maize, may be sprayed throughout December

Data.gov: UKHSA data dashboard

NFUonline (National Farmers’ Union): NFU responds to declining butterfly numbers

 

Russia’s Exit from Syria: What is Turkey’s Strategy?

52:09 Bloomberg: European Allies Debate Pushing Syria Rulers to Oust Russian Army (Archived)

The Aviationist: Russian Forces Leave Bases in Syria Eyeing Expansion in Libya

The Libya Observer (2020): Haftar deploys more mercenaries to Al-Jufra

Center for Strategic & International Studies: Moscow’s Next Front: Russia’s Expanding Military Footprint in Libya

European Council on Foreign Relations: Mapping Libya’s factions by Mary Fitzgerald and Mattia Toaldo

Kathimerini English: Turkey expands grip in Libya

In total, around 3,000 Turkish personnel are currently deployed in Libya, comprising over 2,000 TAF soldiers and approximately 800 private military contractors from the Turkish company SADAT. Additionally, up to 50 Turkish intelligence operatives (MIT) are believed to be active on Libyan soil.

 

Court Backlogs, A Created Crisis: How Long Until Leveson Returns to “Reform” the System?

56:14 The Standard: Jury trials could be axed for some crimes as Crown Court backlog soars to 73,000

Bar Council of England and Wales: Cutting court sitting days causing real concern

THB Solicitors: Barristers’ Strike 2022—How will this affect you?

GOV.UK: Number of police officers protecting our streets at record high

BBC: Shabana Mahmood: Prison space may run out despite plans to expand

The Law Society: Mapping algorithms in the justice system