A senior UN humanitarian official, Edem Wosornu, on Thursday, called on the international community to step up support for communities in need in Niger, warning that limited funding and access challenges have put lives at risk.

Approximately 4.3 million people, over half of them children, have been affected by a multifaceted crisis characterised by conflict, climate-induced disasters, hunger and epidemics.

A military coup in July 2023 and the ensuing political instability have further exacerbated their plight.

Ms Wosornu, OCHA operations director, told reporters in New York via video link from the capital, Niamey, that the people “need help now.”

“We need to do more, and we need to do more now, putting people at the centre,” she said. “If we do not help them now, we will miss the planting season [and] we will not be able to support them and lift them out of their vulnerabilities.”

Ms Wosornu has been in the landlocked West African country since Monday, meeting with authorities, aid organisations and affected communities.She visited Diffa in the remote southeast, where refugees from Nigeria have settled after fleeing Boko Haram militants.

Despite the challenging conditions faced by the refugees, particularly women and children, Wosornu said she felt a strong sense of hope and resilience among the communities.

“The stories (I) heard also illustrate so clearly what we need to do as humanitarians, with the support of the wider international community,” she said, emphasising the need to mobilise effective, life-saving assistance and promote opportunities for people to regain self-sufficiency.

“As we look into the new year, we want to ensure that everything we can do to help the people in Niger, both to meet their immediate needs and to promote solutions,” she said.

UN humanitarian efforts require approximately $662 million, but funding levels have decreased, and accessing affected populations poses difficulties.

“Without funds and without access, we will not be able to reach people as quickly and as sufficiently we need to,” the OCHA director said.

Wosornu echoed recent statements from UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths and other principles of the Interagency Standing Committee (IASC), emphasising the global consensus on supporting the people of the Sahel region.

“They reminded us that for years, the world has agreed that we must help the people of the Sahel. Now is the time to turn these words into action,” she said.

“Now is the time to be behind the people in Sahel, including the Nigeriens.”

U.S. media outlets reported on Wednesday that the U.S., once again, attacked the positions of the Iranian-backed Houthi militia in Yemen early Thursday.

This was reported by CNN, CBS, and ABC, citing U.S. government representatives.

U.S. media said this was the fourth time that the US fired on Houthis in the past week.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter that their forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles.

That was loaded to be fired in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

“These strikes, along with other actions we have taken, will degrade the Houthi’s capabilities to continue their reckless attacks on international and commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The post added that Bab-el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden would be degraded.

“The actions by the Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists continue to endanger international mariners and disrupt the commercial shipping lanes in the Southern Red Sea and adjacent waterways,’’ Michael Kurilla said.

Mr Kurilla is the CENTCOM commander, according to the post.

“We will continue to take actions to protect the lives of innocent mariners, and we will always protect our people,’’ Mr Kurilla stated.

The U.S. military had previously announced that a combat drone launched in Yemen had hit a U.S. freighter flying the flag of the Marshall Islands on Wednesday.

According to the information, there was some damage but no injuries.

The U.S. and UK, with the support of allies, already carried out a comprehensive military strike against the Houthi last week in response to repeated attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.

U.S. President Joe Biden had also put the militia back on the list of global terrorists. Houthi attacks continued.

Since the beginning of the Gaza war between Israel and the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas, the militia has repeatedly attacked freighters with an alleged Israeli connection.

Major shipping companies are increasingly avoiding the Red Sea, which is normally used for around 10 per cent of global trade.

A plan to send individuals seeking asylum in the United Kingdom to Rwanda has passed a lower house vote in the British Parliament securing a significant win for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak whose cabinet proposed the idea.

The vote was held on Wednesday where lawmakers in the lower house of Parliament voted 320 to 376 to back the immigration strategy currently being legislated.

British courts have previously ruled the arrangement as inconsistent with immigration laws and international procedure, rulings largely based on that the prime minister’s office has failed to establish that Rwanda is a safe country for asylum seekers and where they will not be deported back to their home countries where they face violence.

The lower house’s endorsement of the legislation not only supports the declaration of Rwanda as a safe country for asylum seekers but also grants authority to the British government to transport them via flights to the East African nation.

Under the proposed Rwanda scheme, asylum seekers arriving on the British coast in refugee boats would be sent to Rwanda to process their claims.

The policy also however will keep the seekers in Rwanda even after their asylum status has been granted.

This programme has been controversial, facing criticism from human rights groups and refugee charities, having been deemed unlawful by Britain’s Supreme Court in the previous year.

It is the latest legislative effort to address concerns raised by the Supreme Court, attempting to establish a legal framework for sending asylum seekers to Rwanda without violating international law.

The Supreme Court’s previous ruling emphasised the illegality of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda due to the inherent risk of their eventual return to countries where their safety could be compromised.

Despite these efforts, critics continue to express ongoing apprehensions, fearing that the potential breach of international legal standards by the Rwanda policy remains.

Emma Raducanu battled valiantly before running out of steam as her Grand Slam return was ended by China’s Wang Yafan in the Australian Open second round.

Britain’s Raducanu, 21, was beaten 6-4 4-6 6-4 in only her fourth match back after wrist and ankle surgeries which kept her out for almost nine months.

Raducanu looked like she was going to be sick early in the third set and had her blood pressure checked by a doctor.

Despite that, she had chances to break back in the decider but Wang held on.

Raducanu’s exit came immediately after Katie Boulter, who has taken over as British number one, lost to Chinese 12th seed Zheng Qinwen on the same Kia Arena court.

The pair were bidding to set up an all-British meeting in the third round, but instead it is the Chinese pair who will meet on Saturday.

The defeats for Raducanu and Boulter mean there are no British players left in the women’s singles.

Cameron Norrie, who fought back from two sets down to win in five sets earlier on Thursday, is the only remaining player from the nation in the singles draws.

For any player coming back from such a long absence, it takes time to reach match sharpness and patience with their progress will be required.

Raducanu, given the long list of physical and mental struggles she has endured since winning the 2021 US Open, even more caution is necessary.

Therefore it was unsurprising – but not necessarily worrying – to see Raducanu suffer physically in the deciding set of a intense battle with 94th-ranked Wang.

The way she scrapped throughout a three-hour contest, and showed glimpses of her undoubted quality, was encouraging and admirable.

Hundreds of flights at Frankfurt Airport in Germany were cancelled on Thursday due to a winter storm that forced the airport to briefly suspend take-offs and landings.

More than 300 of about 1,000 scheduled flights for Thursday at Frankfurt Airport were cancelled, a spokeswoman for airport operator Fraport, said on Thursday morning.

Flights are taking off and landing at the airport, but air traffic was still recovering from a storm that brought ice, freezing rain and snow to much of western and southern Germany.

It was unclear if additional flights might be cancelled over the course of Thursday.

The airport spokeswoman urged passengers to check the status of their flights online before travelling to the airport.

The Frankfurt Airport is Germany’s largest and most important aviation hub, and is among the busiest airports in Europe.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Wife of President Bola Tinubu, has presented cash gifts of N100,000 each to 250 selected elderly persons in Rivers State.

Mrs Tinubu, represented by the wife of the state governor, Valarie Fubara, said the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s agenda of enhancing the socio-economic growth of the nation.

“This was borne out of the commitment and the determination of the president agenda towards supporting the aged and the elderly, to enable them engage in productive ventures,” she said.

“We are fully committed and determined to improve the welfare of the aged and the elderly citizens,” she added.

She said the initiative would further promote inclusiveness and compassion among Nigerians, saying no one would be left out by the scheme.

She assured that the wellbeing of the aged and the elderly would be prioritised in recognition of their immense contributions to the nation.

“This scheme was to support 250 vulnerable elderly citizens, aged 65 and above. This was also to cushion the effect of the economic situation as well as alleviate the economic hardship being experienced by our esteemed elders. I urge you to embrace life to the fullest, prioritise your health, nurture your minds and strengthen your bonds with loved ones and with God” she said.

Mrs Tinubu also assured that the young, old and less-privileged would also be supported through economic empowerment initiatives.

She said, “We would empower millions of families, while training would be provided for farmers on how to access fertilizers, seedlings and equipment to boost agricultural productivity.”

Earlier, Mrs Fubara stated that the Renewed Hope Initiative of the President would be replicated in the state as it was dear in the heart of the governor.

She said that the state government would be committed to ensuring it succeeded in all ramifications.

Deputy-Governor of the state, Prof Ngozi Odu, said the scheme was a cheering demonstration of concerns for the elderly in the country.

Ms Odu stated that the beneficiaries had been empowered with financial grant and taught the importance of regular medical checkups to know their health status.

A 67-year-old, Joseph Ede, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, lauded the President’s initiative and assured that they would make judicious use of the money.

He described the gesture as timely desirous, especially considering the current economic situation in the country, saying “we would ensure proper utilisation of the gifts.’’

Ghana on Wednesday launched a national malaria elimination strategic plan, aiming to eradicate the deadly disease in the country.

The 2024-2028 malaria elimination strategic plans contain a comprehensive roadmap towards a malaria-free Ghana, said Ghana’s minister of health, Kwaku Manu.

“Malaria-related deaths are unacceptable in Ghana. Indeed, nobody should be dying of malaria in this day and age,” said the minister, adding that Ghana has the science, tools, and human resources necessary to end malaria.

“Malaria elimination is feasible and achievable with our strong collaboration, leadership, and strategic approaches,’’ he added.

Sharmila Lareef, Multi-Country Assignment Officer for Ghana, Liberia, Gambia, and Sierra Leone at the World Health Organisation, lauded Ghana for the progress it has made in the fight against malaria.

She affirmed the WHO’s commitment to continue to provide the required technical assistance for Ghana to eliminate the disease.

Malaria elimination requires high political commitment, renewed and stronger partnerships, mobilisation of adequate resources, and substantial investment in the elimination strategy, said Mr Lareef.

Chinese researchers have achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully cloning the initial rhesus monkey, a species crucial in medical research due to its physiological resemblance to humans.

This advancement is anticipated to expedite drug testing, as the genetic uniformity of cloned animals promises more reliable trial outcomes.

Past attempts at rhesus monkey cloning have faced challenges, with either no live births or the offspring succumbing within hours, BBC reported on Tuesday.

In mammalian reproduction, the mixture of genes from both parents results in offspring. However, cloning involves techniques that generate a genetically identical replica of a single animal.

Dolly the sheep, the most renowned cloned animal, was created in 1996 by reprogramming a cell from another sheep into embryos, which were then implanted into Dolly’s surrogate mother.

Published in the journal Nature Communications, the researchers describe replicating this process with a rhesus monkey, which has remained in good health for over two years, affirming the success of the cloning procedure.

Doctor Falong Lu of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences expressed joy at the achievement.

Despite the positive outcomes, an animal welfare group, the UK’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), voiced deep concerns. The RSPCA emphasised that the suffering endured by the cloned animal outweighs the immediate benefits to human patients.

Rhesus monkeys, inhabiting regions from Afghanistan through India to China, are vital in infection and immunity studies.

While macaque monkeys were cloned in 2018, the preference for rhesus monkeys in medical research persists due to their genetic similarity to humans.

The World Health Organisation on Tuesday said COVID-19 vaccines saved at least 1.4 million lives in Europe.

Delivering his first message of the new year, Regional Director, WHO European region, Dr Hans Kluge, stressed that without vaccines, the death toll on the continent could have been around four million, possibly even higher.

Mr Kluge said, “More than 2.5 million COVID-19 deaths, and 277 million confirmed cases, were reported in the vast WHO European Region, which comprised 53 countries stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Analysis of 34 countries showed that most people whose lives were saved by vaccines, 90 per cent, were over 60.”

Mr Kluge said the vaccines reduced deaths by 57 per cent in the period between their rollout in December 2020 through March 2023, with the first booster doses alone saving an estimated 700,000 lives.

“Today, there are 1.4 million people in our region – most of them elderly – who are around to enjoy life with their loved ones because they took the vital decision to be vaccinated against COVID-19. This is the power of vaccines. The evidence is irrefutable,” Kluge said, speaking from Copenhagen.

He added that COVID-19 rates in Europe remained elevated but were decreasing.

“WHO recommends that people at highest risk of the disease should continue to be re-vaccinated six to 12 months after their most recent dose. This category includes older persons, frontline health workers, pregnant women, and people who are immunocompromised or have significant chronic medical conditions,” he said.

Meanwhile, WHO is currently seeing widespread circulation of respiratory viruses such as influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus and measles in the European region.

RSV rates peaked before the new year and are now declining, Kluge reported, and influenza rates are rapidly rising, with a likely surge expected over the coming weeks.

There has been a nearly 60 per cent increase in reported hospitalisations for the flu over the past two weeks and a 21 per cent increase in ICU admissions, compared to the previous two weeks.

Flu cases increased four-fold between November and December, with 38 countries reporting the start of the seasonal influenza epidemic.

Those most affected by severe disease are people aged 65 and older and the very young.

“We are concerned about reports of localised pressures on hospitals and overcrowding in emergency rooms, due to a confluence of circulating respiratory viruses,” he said.

Mr Kluge stressed that although COVID-19 infection rates were broadly decreasing across Europe, the situation could rapidly change amid the new variant of interest, JN.1, now the most common variant reported globally.

“Though there’s no current evidence to suggest the JN.1 variant is more severe, the unpredictable nature of this virus shows how vital it is that countries continue to monitor for any new variants,’’ he stated.

As many countries had reduced or stopped reporting COVID-19 data to WHO, Kluge underscored the need for continued surveillance as the disease is here to stay.

“We know how to keep ourselves and others safe, whether from COVID-19 or other respiratory infections,” he said.

He noted that health was slipping from the political agenda, and voiced deep concern over the failure to address the ticking time-bomb facing the health and care workforce.

“As health systems come under strain, we are reminded that we may be unprepared for anything out-of-the-ordinary, such as the emergence of a new, more severe COVID-19 variant or a yet unknown pathogen,” he warned.

He urged leaders to show demonstrable support for health workers.

Estonian security authorities have arrested a professor in Tartu on suspicion of espionage.

The Russian citizen was arrested on January 3 and has been remanded in custody for two months, the Estonian general prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday.

The academic at the University of Tartu was alleged to have carried out intelligence-related activities directed against Estonia, the authority said in a statement without providing further details.

The Estonian security police are leading the investigation.

The service’s head, Margo Palloson, said there have been a few dozen similar cases in recent years, suggesting that Russian intelligence services want to infiltrate various areas of life in the country.

The university launched an investigation into the allegations and terminated the professor’s employment.

According to the Estonian Science Database, the Russian academic has worked at the university since 2010, most recently as a professor of international political theory.

Before that, he taught in Russia at Saint Petersburg State University.

On Tuesday, Malaysia launched a programme to raise the public’s literacy level on artificial intelligence (AI).

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the people should master the basics of AI and eliminate the fears of embracing new technology.

Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.

In summary, the goal of AI is to provide software that can reason on input and explain on output.

AI will provide human-like interactions with software and offer decision support for specific tasks, but it’s not a replacement for humans.

Mr Anwar, who officiated the launch, said such a programme by the government is important to address the digital ignorance among the masses.

“The programme is a cooperation between the Economy Ministry and Intel to introduce AI and enable people to master the basic AI skills in a four-hour module.

“With such a programme, the government has projected that at least one million Malaysians would be able to master AI skills in three years,” the prime minister said.

The brutal murder of a young Kenyan woman at a short-term rental apartment has sparked outrage and exposed the violent “manosphere” perpetuating misogyny online in the country.

The woman was dismembered and her remains were stuffed into a plastic bag, according to a police report seen by the BBC. The police are investigating but the suspect is still at large.

The case has left Amnesty International Kenya executive director Irungu Houghton feeling “shocked and outraged”.

“Another women in her 20s who will not get to see her 40s,” he said.

Less than two weeks ago, a Kenyan socialite was also murdered in a short-term rental apartment in the capital, Nairobi.

Gender-based violence is a major concern in Kenya. In 2022 at least 34% of women said they had experienced physical violence, according to a national survey.

This latest killing has shed light on a dark corner of Kenya’s social media which has been described as the “manosphere”, where many comments have been shared blaming the women for their own deaths.

A “manosphere” is a network of online platforms that focuses on promoting masculinity and works in opposition to feminism.

One Kenyan man on X, formerly known as Twitter, said: “I honestly think no amount of activism will stop femicide.

“He added that it was up to “ladies to put their safety first”, claiming it was the only “feasible option”.

In response to the rampant victim blaming, “STOP KILLING WOMEN” began trending in Kenya on X.

One woman on X said: “Can’t believe we’re still seeing stories of what women should and shouldn’t do when men should actually stop killing women first,” adding that “It’s really so simple.

“Kenyan MP Esther Passaris told the BBC she was not surprised at the victim-blaming online because Kenya is a patriarchal society, and looks down on women.She says that as a woman in the public eye, she has been the target of derogatory language and is often called a “prostitute”.

For many campaigners, the response from Kenyan men online is not uncommon.Mr Houghton told the BBC these comments were not simply isolated cases of misogynistic men but were indicative of a broader culture of “woman-hating”.

“Social media and SMS platforms are the new public square. Public spaces for public debate. Kenya society remains divided on what drives sexual and gender-based violence.

“For some, female victim-blaming and for others the blanket condemnation of men are acceptable arguments,” Mr Houghton said.

Onyango Otieno, a 35-year-old activist, who challenges dominant harmful narratives of heteromasculinty, told the BBC that men spew derogatory language because the “promise of patriarchy” is being removed as women demand greater equality.

He says Kenyan men have been socialised to believe their place is above women, but the rise of feminism has left many men feeling emasculated or displaced.

“Many men were not taught or educated on how to coexist with women as equal human beings,” Mr Otieno sighs.

He says many men are struggling with this reality. The “manosphere” is in a sense a way to fight for the “promise of patriarchy”.

“The world has evolved in so many ways. Men have not,” he says decisively.

Six people have been arrested on suspicion of a plot to disrupt the London Stock Exchange.

The Met Police said information suggested activists from the Palestine Action group were intending to target the exchange on Monday.

The force said it was believed those involved were planning to cause damage and “lock on” in an effort to stop the building opening for trading.

Arrests were made in London, Liverpool and Brighton on Sunday.All six people are currently in custody.

The Met said it was “mindful of the suggestion that this was one part of a planned week of action”.

It said it was in contact with other forces, including City of London Police, to ensure any further disruption could be dealt with.

The Met said the arrests were prompted by information shared by the Daily Express.

Det Supt Sian Thomas said: “These are significant arrests. We believe this group was ready to carry out a disruptive and damaging stunt which could have had serious implications had it been carried out successfully.

“A 31-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage by officers from Merseyside Police in the early hours of Sunday.

Five others were arrested over the same offence later in the day, including a woman, 29 from Brent in north London, a 23-year-old man from Tower Hamlets in east London, two women, aged 28 and 26, from Liverpool and a 27-year-old man in Brighton.

“I’m grateful to the Express for their willingness to provide the information gleaned from their own investigation,” Det Supt Thomas said.

“It was instrumental in helping us intervene successfully. Having only been provided with the material on Friday afternoon we had limited time to act.

“She said it was thanks to the “determined efforts” of the Met’s public order crime team and colleagues in Merseyside that officers “were able to identify, locate and arrest those we suspect to be involved in this plot”.

The US followed up on Saturday with another strike on a Houthi radar site.

President Joe Biden has said he would not “hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary”.

Similarly, the UK says it is prepared to launch further action against the Houthis.

Prominent Houthi supporter Hussain Al-Bukhaiti told the BBC on Sunday that fighters would target US and UK battleships if strikes on Yemen continued.

The Houthis are a political and military group in control of a large part of Yemen, including the capital. They are key allies of Hamas and are thought to receive weapons from Iran, Israel’s arch-enemy.

Since 19 November, they have carried out at least 27 attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, a major route for global maritime trade.

The group has said it was targeting vessels heading to, or owned by, Israel, as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza. However, some of the ships they have hit have no clear connection to Israel.

The attacks have led major shipping companies to divert vessels away from the Red Sea, instead taking a longer route around southern Africa.

This has already had an impact on the global economy – with shipping giant Maersk telling the BBC it was being felt “down to the end consumer”.

Tesla and Volvo Cars have suspended some of their car production, UK grocery giant Tesco has warned some prices may go up and Ikea has said supplies could be affected.

The Houthi attacks have been “causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices”, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

The attacks by the group, along with the UK-US strikes in Yemen, have added to fears that the war in Gaza is already spreading to the wider Middle East.

Since 19 November, they have carried out at least 27 attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, a major route for global maritime trade.

The group has said it was targeting vessels heading to, or owned by, Israel, as an act of solidarity with the people of Gaza. However, some of the ships they have hit have no clear connection to Israel.

The attacks have led major shipping companies to divert vessels away from the Red Sea, instead taking a longer route around southern Africa.

This has already had an impact on the global economy – with shipping giant Maersk telling the BBC it was being felt “down to the end consumer”.

Tesla and Volvo Cars have suspended some of their car production, UK grocery giant Tesco has warned some prices may go up and Ikea has said supplies could be affected.

The Houthi attacks have been “causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices”, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said.

The attacks by the group, along with the UK-US strikes in Yemen, have added to fears that the war in Gaza is already spreading to the wider Middle East.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, has forecast dust haze nationwide from Monday to Wednesday.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, forecasts moderate dust haze on Monday with localised visibility of 1,000m expected over the northern region during the forecast period.

The agency said moderate dust haze is expected over the North Central and inland states during the forecast period.

Patches of clouds in hazy atmosphere is anticipated over the coastal belt with slim prospects of localised thunderstorms over parts of Lagos State during the afternoon and evening hours.

“On Tuesday, moderate dust haze is expected over the northern region and the North Central states throughout the forecast period.

“Moderate dust haze is also expected over the inland state throughout the forecast period.

“Patches of clouds in a hazy atmosphere is expected over the coastal states throughout the forecast period,” it said.

The UK will provide £2.5bn of military aid to Ukraine over the coming year, Rishi Sunak has said – Britain’s largest annual commitment since Russia’s invasion.

The PM made the announcement during a rare visit to the country, where he will also sign a new agreement supporting its long-term security.

Officials said the package will provide Ukraine with long-range missiles, air defence and artillery shells.

Some £200m will be spent on drones, most of which will be UK-made.

Officials said the military package – for the next financial year beginning in April – would result in the largest delivery of drones to Ukraine by any country.

Significantly, the prime minister has decided not to make a financial commitment lasting several years.

Some ministers and senior military figures had argued privately this would send a stronger signal to Moscow of Britain’s long-term support.

Instead, Mr Sunak has chosen to spend £200m more than the last two years, when the UK’s annual military commitment to Ukraine was worth £2.3bn.

Downing Street said the package of support would form the first step in what it called “an unshakeable hundred-year partnership between Ukraine and the UK”.

It will also include £18m for humanitarian aid, help fortifying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and more funding for online English language training.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told BBC Breakfast the drones will give Ukraine an advantage over the coming years.

He said: “They are drones that are being developed at pace, learning all of the lessons from what we’ve seen in Ukraine over the last two years.

“He added the funding shows the UK is maintaining its leadership position in Europe as the second-biggest donor to Ukraine.

Mr Sunak, who last visited Ukraine 15 months ago in November 2022, said: “I am here today with one message: the UK will also not falter. We will stand with Ukraine in their darkest hours and in better times to come.

“He added: “The UK is already one of Ukraine’s closest partners, because we recognise their security is our security.

“Today we are going further, increasing our military aid, delivering thousands of cutting-edge drones and signing a historic new security agreement to provide Ukraine with the assurances it needs for the long term.

“For two years, Ukraine has fought with great courage to repel a brutal Russian invasion. They are still fighting, unfaltering in their determination to defend their country and defend the principles of freedom and democracy.

“The UK commitment comes after months of pressure from MPs, who argued the government should have given Ukraine greater clarity much earlier so it could develop its military planning.

It also comes as both the United States and the European Union struggle to agree their own packages of support, with Ukraine in desperate need of more shells and missiles.

In the US, Republicans are blocking a $60bn (£47bn) package of support for Ukraine in an attempt to increase spending on tackling migration along America’s southern border.

And in the EU, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has blocked a €50bn (£43bn) support package for Ukraine in a funding row with Brussels.

The UK-Ukraine agreement – being signed today – comprises a raft of bilateral assurances of military and economic support, designed to deter Russian aggression before Ukraine joins Nato.

Officials said the UK is the first G7 country to sign such a pact, which all seven leading industrial nations promised to do at the Nato summit in Vilnius last year.

Former coach of the England national team, Sven-Goran Eriksson, says he has “at best” a year to live after he was diagnosed with cancer, the 75-year-old announced on Thursday.

“I’m going to resist for as long as I can,” Eriksson told Swedish Radio P1. “I have an illness that’s serious. Best case a year, I have a worst case a lot less. It’s impossible to say exactly, so it’s better to not think about it,” he added.

Eriksson, who managed England between 2001 and 2006 and led them to the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup and the European Championships, said he was diagnosed with the disease “almost one year ago”.

As a result of the health issue, the former Manchester City manager had to step down from his role as the Karlstad, a club in his home country of Sweden, close to a year ago.

Speaking to BBC World Service’s Sporting Witness, Eriksson said: “I live a totally normal life.”

He continued: “I’m not in hospital, I go now and then for a visit but I live at home and I have friends here. Christmas and New Year, the whole family were here – a lot of people.

“I’m going out to try and exercise as much as possible, which is less than it was one year ago, but I have a normal life,” the Serie A title, two Italian Cups and the Uefa Cup Winners’ Cup winning coach said.

United Kingdom Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has authorised military strikes against the Iranian-backed Houthis following hours of an emergency full cabinet meeting on Thursday night.

The latest development comes after the United Nations Security Council had on Wednesday adopted a resolution sponsored by the United States and Japan condemning the actions of the Houthis rebels and its major backer, Iran.

The Houthis, backed by its major weapon supplier, Iran, is a Shia Islamist political and military organisation based in Yemen and has been actively involved in a civil war with Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2014.

However, the group has intensified its attacks across the Red Sea as part of a show of support for Palestine since the Israel-Hamas began last year — they have hijacked Western commercial ships as well as carried out several rockets and missile attacks on U.S warships.

The group has also launched a barrage of rocket attacks on Israelis from Yemen, which has prompted the decision of the UK government to authorise military action against the Houthis.

The U.S. has carried out several reciprocity attacks on the group in response to their recent aggression, and Sunak’s authorisation is expected to complement the Americans’ military operation in the region.