Thirty out of 350 existing export permits for weapons parts to Israel have been suspended by the UK due to concerns that using the parts would violate international law, according to the i newspaper. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant is quoted in the Times as saying he is “deeply disheartened” by the decision, which affects components for fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones and targeting equipment. The Financial Times reports that UK arms account for just 1% of Israeli imports and the affected licences will remain under review but says that the suspension marks a “significant diplomatic blow”.
Until now, UK policy on Israel has been in “tight co-ordination” with the US but the decision is “likely to cause tensions” with the Biden administration, according to the Guardian. The daily quotes the Foreign Office as stating that while no definitive conclusion has been reached on whether UK arms have contributed to the destruction of Gaza, the scale of that damage and the number of civilian deaths has caused great concern. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Labour Party, has faced a backlash from some of his members over plans to remove the winter fuel payment for approximately 10 million pensioners in England and Wales, says the Daily Mail.
The Daily Telegraph reports today that carmakers are delaying the deliveries of petrol and hybrid cars in order to meet the zero-emission mandate for at least 22% of their sales to be electric cars. The delays mean that those ordering emitting vehicle from some dealerships today will not receive them until February, according to one firm.
Finally, the Metro carries a report about Catherine O’Sullivan, whose son Jack, a law conversion student living in Bristol, has been missing since March. Catherine says she has received hoax messages demanding a ransom. The Daily Star brings up the rear with a note that Jeremy Clarkson, co-host of The Grand Tour, says one reason the programme is ending is that the “world is too dangerous to drive anywhere”
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