During World War I, people would wave white feathers at men in the streets – as a symbol to shame those who refused to stand up and fight for their country. These ‘conscientious objectors’ often refused to fight for Britain in the 1914–1918 conflict against Germany for moral reasons. And as a result, ‘The White Feather Campaign’ was organised by women to publicly present men not in uniform with a white feather, as a symbol of cowardice.
It feels as if, with global tensions rising, the threat of another global conflict is closer than in the past – and the prospect of compulsory military conscription, especially for young men, may be very real. 2026 is mere days old, but the US has already invaded Venezuela and is holding urgent security meetings over threats to use its military to occupy Denmark’s sovereign territory, Greenland.
The prospect of WW3 is not something anyone relishes, but as Vladimir Putin’s push into Ukraine continues – and the US clashes with Iran over the Israel-Palestine conflict and threats to take nuclear weapons – it’s fair to say that the threat of a new global conflict feels more real than ever.
Ministers have said the UK needs to be prepared for ‘war in our homeland’, placing greater emphasis on a society prepared for the outbreak of conflict as well as pandemics, extreme weather and other national emergencies such as cyber attacks or infrastructure failure.
We don’t know exactly what recruitment would look like today, but we do have some historical precedents from the last global conflict, World War II.
Those who were conscientious objectors were sent to tribunals to have their cases heard. They had to go to court to argue their reasons for refusing to join, and if their cases were not dismissed, they were given exempt status and offered a non-combat job to aid the war effort.
The Parliament’s website explains: “Conscientious objectors had to appear before a tribunal to argue their reasons for refusing to join. If their cases were not dismissed, they were given one of several categories of exemption and given non-combat jobs.”
Even today, the rights of conscientious objectors are recognised by European courts.
A report on recruitment released in March 2025 by the UK Government outlines how it operates in other European countries in relation to the National Service today.
It states: “Most countries oblige men to serve, while offering women the opportunity to volunteer if they wish. Many countries also offer alternative civilian options for conscientious objectors. Some use a lottery model, meaning only a small proportion of eligible men are required to serve.”
It states: “The European Parliament’s Research Service briefing on compulsory military service states that all EU Member States with active conscription systems have recognised the rights of conscientious objectors through national legislation.”
For example, in Finland, men are required by law to serve, but conscientious objectors may be given non-military service.
In Greece, it is similar, with minimum conditions: “less than 12 months of military or 15 months of civilian service for conscientious objectors.”
Of course, while you may be offered a non-combat role should World War III break out, that won’t stop people on the street from waving white feathers at you.
As explained by the Peace Museum via the University of St Andrews: “The women of the ‘White Feather Campaign’ were militants in more ways than one: with passive aggression, they tried to shame men into joining and fighting in the war, believing that military participation was necessary and right.
“The symbol they used took some well-known peace imagery – the classic white dove – and twisted it to fit their public campaign. It is important to remember that, in their militarism, many of these women felt that they were ultimately working towards global peace: in their view, joining the ‘war effort’ was the best way to end the First World War. Their views were in sharp contrast to the moral pacifism of conscientious objectors, who sought a means to resolve the conflict. As argued against violence.
President Trump is not ruling out the possibility of a further U.S. expansion, intervention, or occupation efforts in the Western Hemisphere. The army’s success in looting Former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from Caracas over the weekend Face drug trafficking charges in US,
He has already received threats of capture Greenland. And Canada predicted that the governments in Cuba and Colombia would fall. Now, Mr Trump is again making similar remarks and raising new questions about what he plans to do next.
Mr. Trump said on Saturday that under his administration, “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never again be questioned”—dubbing his approach the “Don-Roe Doctrine,” a spin on a 19th-century foreign policy concept.
It is unclear whether the president will follow through on his threats against other countries.
Here’s the latest on countries and territories that have been the subject of the president’s interventionist comments:
greenland
Mr Trump has long desired Greenland and said it was necessary US national security He said one thing again on Sunday.
“We need Greenland as a national security situation. It is very strategic. Russian and Chinese ships are currently encircling Greenland, he stated. “We need Greenland from a national security perspective.”
Mr Trump added, “Denmark will not be able to do that; I can tell you that.” “To increase safety in Greenland, they added another dogsled.”
White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said administration officials were discussing “a range of options”, including using military force to acquire Greenland. said on Tuesday,
The President also nominated Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Last month he served as special envoy to Greenland to represent U.S. interests on the island, which is an autonomous region of Denmark. “It is an honour to serve you in this volunteer position to make Greenland a part of the United States,” Landry said in a social media post addressed to Mr Trump.
In March, Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland and told a reporter while there that “what we think is that the Greenlanders are going to choose through self-determination to become independent from Denmark, and then we are going to negotiate with the Greenlandic people from there.”
The leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly said the vast Arctic island is not for sale and will decide its own future.
A post Saturday from Katie Miller, wife of top White House aide Stephen Miller, showed Greenland covered with the American flag along with the comment “soon”, which has led some to wonder whether a merger is on the horizon.
When CNN asked Stephen Miller on Monday if he could deny that the United States planned to take over Greenland by force, he responded, “There’s no need to think or talk about a military operation in the context that you’re asking about.” No one is going to fight the United States militarily over the future of Greenland.”
Mr. Trump told reporters on Air Force One over the weekend that, although nothing was imminent, “We’ll worry about Greenland in about two months.” Let’s talk about Greenland in 20 days.”
Jens Frederik Nielsen, Prime Minister of Greenland scolded Mr Trump In a social media post, the merger suggestions were called “fantasies” and wrote: “Enough is enough.”
On Tuesday,leaders of europe “Security in the Arctic must therefore be achieved collectively by working with NATO allies, including the United States, while upholding the principles of the United Nations Charter, including sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. These are universal principles, and we will never stop defending them,” the government stated.
iran
growing opposition There has been tension in Iran for more than a week regarding the poor economic situation and such reports have also come Dozens of people have died In response, hours before the Venezuelan operation began, Mr Trump posted on social media that if Iran “violently executes peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States will come to their defence.” He said America is “closed and loaded”.
The president said of the demonstrations in Iran on Sunday, “We are watching it very closely. Should they resume their past practices of killing people, I believe the United States will retaliate strongly.
America executed air strikes in June against its major nuclear facilities, Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, in an effort to destroy Iran’s nuclear enrichment capability.
Cuba
Returning to Washington on Sunday, Mr. Trump told reporters, “It looks like Cuba is ready to fall,” adding that he did not know “if they are going to hold up.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s comments Saturday indicate Cuban leaders should be concerned: “If I lived in Havana and was in the government, I would be at least a little concerned.” A day later, on NBC News’ “Meet the Press”, he said of Cuba, “They’re in a lot of trouble.”
Rubio did not detail any plans for Cuba or its leaders, but said, “We clearly dislike the Cuban regime, which, by the way, was supporting Maduro.”
Rubio highlighted the close ties between Venezuela and Cuba, noting that Maduro relied on Cuban bodyguards for protection and saying that they were in charge of the Venezuelan government’s “internal intelligence.” The Cuban government reported that the military operation to capture Maduro resulted in the deaths of 32 Cubans.
For now, Mr Trump is content to see how things are going on the island.
“I don’t think we need any action in Cuba,” he said, adding that Cuba “has no income now – they get all their income from Venezuela, and Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it. And Cuba is literally ready to collapse.”
Last year, Cuba’s oil imports from Venezuela fell 15% to 27,400 barrels a day. reuters It also said that Mexico’s supply to Cuba has fallen 73% to just 5,000 bpd in the same period from January to October.
Colombia
The president appears to have less patience for Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whom he accuses of illegal drug production and trafficking.
“Colombia is also very sick, run by a sick man who loves to make cocaine and sell it to the United States, and he won’t be doing that for very long, let me tell you,” Mr Trump told reporters on Saturday. Asked whether he was threatening a military operation in Colombia, the president responded, “That works for me. You know… they kill many people.”
The Trump administration has claimed that cocaine production has increased during Petro’s presidency, and Treasury Secretary Scott Besant sanctions announced Petro in October because he “allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity.”
Petro has accused the US of violating international law by attacking alleged drug boats, which have now killed at least 115 people, and suggested some innocent civilians may have been killed in the attacks. The US refutes the claim that any of the boat attacks killed innocent civilians.
Petro – Joe Once belonged to a guerrilla group – warned Mr Trump against taking action in his country, writing on X that he had “sworn never to touch a weapon again,” but “for the Motherland I will take up weapons I do not want.”
Canada
While Mr Trump has talked about this before, making Canada the “51st State”, they have not raised it again since the Venezuela operation.
But Mr Trump has imposed punitive tariffs against Canada, raising tariffs to 35% in August, although a large portion of the goods are exempt because they are covered under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
In October, Mr Trump threatened to end trade negotiations with Canada after an anti-tariff ad using Ronald Reagan’s voice ran in Ontario. Ontario Premier Doug Ford removed the ad, saying, “Our intention was always to start a conversation about what kind of economy Americans want to build and what the impact of tariffs will be on workers and businesses.”
Panama Canal
Mr Trump argued early in his term that the US should gain control of the strategic Panama Canal – drawing criticism from the government of Panama. America inspected the construction of the canal in the early 20th century and controlled it for decades but began ceding the canal and surrounding lands back to Panama in 1979.
He claimed in March he was “reclaiming the Panama Canal,” referring to a deal by a US-led consortium to buy a controlling stake in the company that operates ports near the canal. The President of Panama accused Mr Trump of “lying again”.
What is the Monroe Doctrine?
In 1823, James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, presented to Congress an outline of America’s policy toward its neighbours in the Western Hemisphere. It was initially intended to ward off European colonialism, but the Monroe administration also wanted to increase America’s influence and trade alliances.
During the Cold War, the US cited the Monroe Doctrine to defend against the expansion of communism in Latin America.
The phrase “Don-Roe Doctrine” first appeared on the cover of the New York Post last year.
Fresh-faced alt-pop singer Sombre has landed third place on BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 list, which showcases the biggest new music artists for the next 12 months.
Going viral on TikTok, selling out a headline tour, appearing on Jimmy Fallon with a song about her ex (then finding her 15 missed calls), being enthusiastically endorsed by Taylor Swift, having hit films in the US and UK… Every time Sombre gets a big break, a bigger break soon follows.
Sombre’s nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in just a few weeks could be her next and biggest success yet.
Even at this stage of his career, this will not be the 20-year-old player’s first award.
In September, she won the Moonman Trophy at the MTV Video Music Awards and gave a performance aimed at introducing the public to her musical persona.
Or personality.
getty images
Sombre kicked off his MTV VMAs performance in rock god mode in September…
getty images
…before switching to her dazzling pop star persona
Dressed in leather trousers and a black shirt half open to the chest, he launched into an angst-filled Back to Friends with a rock band covered in dry ice, in a set modelled after a dirty club, looking every inch the moody indie messiah.
Then, after quickly donning a shimmering black jacket, she was carried up onto the stage by scantily clad dancers, who twirled around (and against) her as she sang the distinctive disco 12 to 12 under a giant glitterball while Ariana Grande jumped up and down in approval.
That mash-up highlighted two sides of Sombre.
On one hand, he is a troubled indie artist who composed a comprehensive album filled entirely with songs—truly full—centered on themes of heartbreak and emotional pain.
On the other hand, he’s a flawless pop star who gives those songs catchy melodies and great production and delivers them with swagger in a cool suit.
He fills the void left by Jeff Buckley and Harry Styles.
Also included in the mix are excerpts from Matty Healy from The 1975, Jim Morrison from The Doors; and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness.
However, in today’s genre-fluid music landscape, you don’t have to pick a side. It’s possible for Dr Buckley and Mr Styles to be both cool and pop.
getty images
Sombre wins Best Alternative Video at the MTV VMAs
Sombre has named Buckley and Radiohead among his musical heroes and said that he has “always been an “alternative music” guy.”
In fact, their MTV award was named “Best Choice” for the video for Back to Friends.
“But at the same time, I grew up listening to pop radio in the car or with my parents, and my favourite pop act would be – if it’s even considered pop, I think it’s considered pop – Daft Punk.
“With my natural tastes and upbringing, I found it to be a perfect fit between the poppy hooks and production in some of it and my instrumentation and indie approach to writing.
“A lot of my songs are guitar-heavy. I can never make a full-blown pop song. It always has to have that alternative touch.”
New Yorker Shane Buss became sombre when he posted his first song, Gorgeous Wistful Caroline, on TikTok in 2022, at the age of 16.
He recalls, “I woke up the next day and it was viral, and almost every record label was in my inbox.” “So, as crazy as it sounds, it was an overnight success.”
However, it took three years to go from overnight success to mainstream success, and the path was not always straightforward.
They signed to Warner Records but had lost their way creatively by the end of 2024.
“I was 18 years old. I had just dropped out of high school when I signed a label, and, you know, I didn’t really know what I was doing. And I still don’t know…
“It’s always a strange experience when music transitions from being a hobby to becoming a business or a job.” Do you know what comes to your mind? I didn’t have any backup plan. Therefore, success is not a requirement for this endeavour.
last point
With his career on hold, Sombre was preparing for the possibility of moving back in with his parents, going back to school, and becoming Plain Shane again.
He says, “It was very slow going and it was having a creative effect on me because I started trying to make what I thought people wanted to hear, or what I thought would be beneficial, but that wasn’t working. That never works.”
“So I said, [Forget] this… I’m going to make exactly what I want to make right now. And that was Back to Friends.”.
pa media
Sombre performed on the BBC’s Graham Norton Show in November.
Sombre says writing not to please others but from the heart opens up everything.
And it was from the heart. Back to Friends is about the pain of spending a night with someone she considers merely casual and meaningless.
More content flowed in, all on the same theme of unrequited or lost love.
He says, “These songs are just about relationships and some of my experiences as a young person with love, loss, and life in between.” “It came out effortlessly.”
This brief description understates the painful sadness simmering beneath the surface of his songs.
Now you are breaking my spirit, my beloved,” Sombre lamented in Crushing, the opening track of her debut album, I Barely Know Her.
Lines from other songs are “You were never mine but I was always yours” (I wish I knew how to leave you); “I try to go on dates but none of them are you” (Canal Street); and “I don’t want any other man’s children to have eyes like the girl I’ll never forget” (With clothes removed).
When Sombre made his TV debut last May singing Back to Friends on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he posted on TikTok that he’d come off the set to watch 15 missed calls from the girl who gave him all that inspiration by rejecting him.
What did his messages say? He said, “I just saw you on Fallen.” I changed my mind.’
“You know, that’s how it goes. The first thing I did was [show] that a career is getting serious. So I think he saw that.”
Like his songs, this is just his side of the conversation. Did he react or did he move on?
“I’ve moved on. There was no reaction from me and it’s in the past, you know?
“My experiences are now reflected in my art, and that is the only place they exist.”
dating game
Putting your most personal feelings out for public consumption has other unintended consequences.
In May, Sombre posted a clip of that line from Undressed with the caption: “Real question: How do I re-enter the dating scene after writing this song?”
How’s that going?
“Not good, man, not good,” he replies with a sarcastic smile. “I’m figuring it out.”
And after striking gold from a relationship experience, how did he find fresh inspiration to re-enter the field of songwriting?
He replied, “It is not a problem.” I am currently living a highly inspiring and dynamic life, so I am not experiencing significant difficulties.
“I’m travelling the world, doing what I love, seeing new places, meeting new people. So it’s not too hard.”
The action will continue in 2026 with more sell-out tours, TV slots, awards shows, and accolades — and hopefully, for her sake, some songs about falling in love, too.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said Elon Musk’s ex must urgently deal with its built-in artificial intelligence, Grok, which is being used to generate “absolutely appalling” fake erotic images.
Ofcom expressed “serious concerns” on Monday. With the social media platform’s AI tools, it can be used to create “nude images of people” and “sexualised images of children.”
Since the year began,
According to analysis by news agency Reuters, there are also several cases where Grok created sexually explicit images of children.
image: Technology Secretary Liz Kendall. File Image: PA
“What we are seeing online in recent days is absolutely appalling and unacceptable in a civilised society,” Ms. Kendall said.
“No one should have to go through the ordeal of seeing their own intimate deepfakes online.
We cannot and will not tolerate the proliferation of these degrading and humiliating images, which disproportionately target women and girls.
More from Science, Climate and Technology
“X needs to deal with this urgently. Ofcom is right to treat this as an urgent matter, and I fully support them in taking any necessary enforcement action.
Sky News has seen many users share their disgust after a deepfake bikini was shared without consent on the app.
Whistleblowers on TikTok draw attention to security concerns related to artificial intelligence.
A statement shared on X’s official security account said: “We take action against illegal content on the platform.”
A post on the Grok
“XAI has security measures in place, but improvements are ongoing to completely prevent such requests,” it added.
Is AI bigger than COVID?
On Friday, French ministers informed prosecutors of sexually explicit material generated by Grok on X, saying the “sexual and sexist” material was “clearly illegal.”.
Can X be compelled to act?
Under the Online Safety Act, which began to be fully enforced in July, it is a crime to share intimate photos of someone without their permission, even if created using AI.
The Act allows companies that enable deepfakes to be shared online to be fined up to £18m, or 10% of their eligible worldwide revenues, whichever is greater.
This also applies if Company X is based outside the UK but has many UK users or has the potential to harm UK users.
The European Union has a similar regulation, called the Digital Services Act (DSA), and can also fine companies.
Indeed, it was necessary to establish the defences of Keir Starmer and other leaders just last month.
Are we too dependent on AI?
Read more: Why is the Trump administration so angry about Europe’s online rules?
In December, theTrump administration sanctioned British and European online security campaigners It was accused of censoring the “American point of view”.
However, in the United States, some groups are also calling on authorities to take action against xAI.
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) wrote to the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Justice Department, and all attorneys general on Monday, demanding immediate action.
“XAI is knowingly and recklessly putting people at risk on its platform and hoping to avoid accountability just because it is AI’,” said Ben Winters, director of AI and data privacy at the CFA.
“AI is like any other product; the company broke the law and should be punished.”
Trainee drivers may have to practise for up to six months before they are allowed to sit their practical test.
The BBC can reveal that learner drivers in England and Wales can take up to six months between sitting their theory and practical tests.
As part of its wider road safety strategy, the government will unveil the measure on Wednesday and invite consultations.
Changes to driving laws aim to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on Britain’s roads by 65% and the number of children under 16 killed by 70% over the next decade.
Nearly one-fifth of all deaths or serious injuries in crashes in 2024 will involve a young car driver.
The government believes that the minimum period between sitting the theory test and the practical test will help learner drivers develop their skills, including driving in a variety of conditions.
The Department of Transport will consult on the minimum learning period of three or six months.
This will include any informal learning undertaken with parents or guardians as well as formal lessons with a driving instructor.
Evidence from other countries suggests that a minimum learning period can reduce collisions by 32%. Currently, learner drivers can take lessons from 17 and book a practical test as soon as they pass a theory test.
Young people under the age of 25 take most driving tests in the UK. In 2024–25, about 55% of tests were conducted by drivers aged 17–24.
Learner drivers currently face a waiting time of about six months Due to the backlog caused by the Covid pandemic, they had to give their practical exams anyway. The backlog is expected to last until the end of 2027.
The proposed changes could prevent teenagers from taking the test a few days after they turn 17, meaning the youngest drivers would have to be at least 17 and a half years old.
graduate driving licence
There are strong campaigns in the UK to introduce a “Graduate Driving Licence” (GDL). Different countries have different types of GDLs, such as prohibiting newly qualified drivers from carrying passengers or driving at night.
GDL’s supporters include some parents of youth who have died on the streets.
Sharon Huddleston started the campaign to launch GDL eight years ago after her daughter Caitlin died in an accident at the age of 18.
Sharon’s daughter Caitlin died in a car driven by a novice driver
Sharon supports the proposed minimum learning period but added, “We also need safety precautions after testing.”
the driver involved in the murder,
Sky Mitchell, the driver involved in the murder, had only completed his test four months prior.
Sharon believes Caitlin “would still be here” if the UK had introduced graduated driving licences, which would have prevented newly qualified, young drivers from carrying passengers their own age.
“All the girls [in the car] were 18 years old,” she said.
“This is the strongest element of the graduated driving licence that will save many young lives.”
The AA welcomed the measures announced by the government but said not introducing a GDL was “a missed opportunity”.
Its chairman, Edmund King, told the BBC that “all the evidence, from Australia, from Canada, from other countries” shows that limiting the number of passengers of the same age in a car for six months “will save lives”.
He said of the learning period, “It will help, but the question is, does it go far enough?”
The road safety strategy will also include proposals to lower the drink-driving limit in England and Wales to bring it in line with Scotland. The limit will be even lower for novice drivers, which is already in place in Northern Ireland.
The BBC revealed in October that further research on headlight glare will be included in the strategy.
Twenty-one-year-old Alissa Fielder, from Surrey, passed her test as a teenager, but a year ago she crashed while trying to overtake a lorry on a motorway. No one was injured, but his car was wrecked.
“I was too late to check the blind spot and all the cars in front stopped,” he said.
“If I had maybe taken a few more lessons, I would have known that you can’t really take that long.“
Alyssa took a driving assessment four years after getting her licence to see what skills she could improve.
After the accident, Alyssa did not drive for a year.She has since undertaken an informal assessment with the charity IAM RoadSmart to boost her confidence and find out what she needs to work on.
“I was not driving to the best standards and that is why I crashed.”
Alissa said the process of becoming a better driver should continue even after a person passes the test. “Maybe you need to take more lessons from a professional.”
Local Transport Minister Lillian Greenwood said young people make up only 6% of all drivers, but they are involved in almost a quarter of fatal and serious collisions.
“Inexperience puts drivers, passengers and other road users at greater risk,” he said.
The proposed learning period is “about helping young drivers develop the confidence they need to stay safe and giving them more time to build their skills and gain experience in different driving situations.”.
Hyundai Motor Group says it will create human-like robots at a manufacturing plant in the US state of Georgia, joining the list of companies racing to use the new technology.
The South Korean firm on Monday showcased Atlas, a humanoid robot developed by Boston Dynamics, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The announcement follows companies that are planning to deploy humanoid robots on their factory floors, including Amazon, Tesla and Chinese carmaking giant BYD.
Hyundai plans to deploy the robots at the same plant that was involved in a massive immigration raid in 2025 that led to the arrest of hundreds of workers, including at least 300 South Korean citizens.
Atlas humanoids will begin operation in 2028 and will gradually add more functions, Hyundai said. The company owns a majority stake in Boston Dynamics, the technology company famous for Spot the Robot Dog.
Atlas, which is designed for general industrial use, is being developed to work with people and manage machines autonomously.
robots will help reduce physical stress
Hyundai said the robots will help reduce physical stress for human workers, handle potentially dangerous tasks, and pave the way for wider use of the technology.
The company did not say how many robots it would initially deploy or how much the project would cost.
Speaking at CES, Hyundai vice president Jehoon Chang acknowledged concerns that human workers could lose their jobs to robots. However, Reuters reported that he emphasised the need for humans to train the robots for other roles.
Monday’s announcement came as Hyundai said it would invest more than $20 billion (£15.5 billion) in the US in 2025, supporting President Donald Trump’s plans to boost manufacturing in the country.
The company said it would expand car production in the US and invest in autonomous driving technology and artificial intelligence (AI).
Elon Musk’s electric car maker Tesla has also invested heavily in its humanoid robot Optimus.
Hyundai’s battery plant in Georgia, which it operates in partnership with electronics giant LG, is one of its major facilities in the US.
In September 2025, US immigration officials raided the plant.
Workers were shackled by their feet in scenes that sparked outrage in South Korea.
President Lee Jae-myung and Hyundai Chief Executive Jose Munoz warned that the raids could deter foreign investment in the US.
Later that month, Washington and Seoul reached an agreement to release the detained workers.
Trump said he opposed the raid and that the US has an “understanding” with the world about the need to set up special facilities and bring in experts to train local workers.
Munoz said in November that the White House had personally called him to apologise for the raid.
Hollywood star Mickey Rourke has told fans he is not behind an “outrageous” fundraising website set up to support him – and urged well-wishers to try to get their money back, as the total raised has reached almost $100,000.
oscar The named actor and former boxer shared a video statement on Instagram saying he was “really disappointed” and “confused” by the page titled “Help Mickey Rourke Stay in His Home”, which was set up on the crowdfunding platform GoFundMe over the weekend.
“Someone has set up some kind of foundation or fund for me to donate money to, like, charity, and that’s not me,” Rourke told his 488,000 followers. He said he didn’t know who was behind it.
The GoFundMe page said Rourke was facing a “very real and urgent situation: the threat of eviction from his home.”
The page organiser is listed as Lia-Joel Jones, an assistant to Rourke’s manager, Kimberly Hines, and its description says it was set up with her full permission “to help cover immediate housing-related expenses” and prevent eviction.
Rourke is “going through a very difficult time right now”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the fundraiser, Jones told the outlet that Rourke is “going through a very difficult time right now” and that it was “incredibly touching how many people care about him and want to help.”
In his video, while sitting with his dog, Lucky, Rourke denied any involvement with Page and declared his intention to consult with his lawyer to fully understand the situation.
image: Mickey Rourke condemned the GoFundMe page in a video shared on social media. Photo: @mickey_rourke_/Instagram
The 73-year-old admitted that he has done a “really terrible job” at managing his career but said that after years of therapy, he has “worked very hard” and is “not as wild a man” as he was in his past.
The actor was best known for films including 9 1/2 Weeks, Rumble Fish, and The Pope of Greenwich Village in the 1980s, and he continued to act in the 1990s, while also pursuing his boxing career. In 2008, he starred in The Wrestler – a performance that earned him BAFTA and Oscar nominations for Best Actor.
In 2025, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK but was kicked out of the house due to “use of inappropriate language” and “instances of unacceptable behaviour.”.
From the very beginning, she stirred up controversy in the house by making former Dance Moms star JoJo Siwa cry with her comments about her sexuality.
Rourke stated that the COVID pandemic.
In his video, Rourke stated that the COVID pandemic and the Hollywood boom in 2023 had “killed” his finances, and he was previously in a “bad situation” with his rent.
Read more from Sky News:
Was the US attack in Venezuela legal?
Chalamet and Buckley among Critics’ Choice winners
However, he described the fundraising page as “very embarrassing” and told fans, “Don’t give any money, and if you’ve given money, get it back…”
“I would never ask strangers or fans or anyone for money. It’s not my style. You can ask anyone who knows me. It’s disrespectful, and it’s really embarrassing.”
He told fans he was “grateful for everything I have – I have a roof over my head, I have food to eat… everything’s fine,” adding, “Take your money back, please; I don’t need anyone’s money and I wouldn’t do it that way. I’m so proud.”
Sky News has contacted representatives for Hines and Rourke for comment.
A major motoring group has warned that industry rebates for electric vehicles are “unsustainable” as the number of new cars registered in Britain exceeded two million last year for the first time since the pandemic.
According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), about 500,000 of the new cars sold were electric.
SMMT chief executive, Mike Hawes, welcomed what he called a “reasonably solid result amid difficult economic and geopolitical headwinds”.
But electric car sales are still not growing fast enough to meet official targets, he said, warning of a growing gap between consumer demand and government ambitions.
The discounts of thousands per vehicle were “unsustainable,”, he said.
new cars were registered in 2025,
Overall, 2,020,373 new cars were registered in 2025, the third consecutive year of growth and the highest since the pandemic.
However, this is still significantly less than the 2.3 million sold in 2019.
There were 473,340 new registrations of electric cars last year, taking their market share to 23.4%.
This was a significant increase over 2024 but still short of the government’s main target of 28%, known as the zero emission vehicle mandate (ZEV mandate).
The mandate states that carmakers who fail to sell enough electric cars as a percentage of their total sales could face hefty fines.
However, there are some concessions in the rules that may enable them to avoid penalties, for example, by reducing emissions from other vehicles in their fleet or by purchasing surplus ’emission credits’ from manufacturers that exceed their targets.
These ‘flexibilities’ were extended in April after heavy lobbying by some manufacturers, while penalties for failing to comply were reduced.
But Howes warned that even then, carmakers are having to offer deep discounts to sell enough electric models. SMMT estimates these rebates were worth more than £5 billion last year, or about £11,000 for each electric vehicle sold.
Hawes asserted that this approach is unsustainable, particularly given the anticipated 33% target for manufacturers this year. They urged the government to initiate a planned review of the ZEV mandate for 2027.
“This is increasing the sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs),” he said. “The question is, at what cost?”
He suggested that such a review should look at factors that have changed significantly since Target’s first plan, including significant increases in energy prices and higher raw material costs, which have made life more difficult for carmakers.
However, he stopped short of explicitly calling for further weakening of the rules.
“Don’t get me wrong – the industry is not changing its ways,” he stressed.
“He needs to sell these vehicles because he has invested so heavily in them. But you need to make sure that the market more closely reflects the real level of demand.”
Eurig Drus, group managing director of Stellantis in the UK, which owns brands such as Vauxhall, Peugeot and Citroën, called for a review of the ZEV mandate to be brought forward earlier this year as “the UK continues to lose ground in Europe and the rest of the world”.
Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, he said speeding up the review would give manufacturers “certainty” when making investment decisions and “help consumers make the right choice for the cars they want to buy for their future”.
However, some commentators are more positive about the ZEV mandate.
Colin Walker of the Environmental Research Group, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, welcomed the latest registration figures.
“2025 has been another bumper year for EV sales, with nearly one in four cars sold in 2025 being an EV,” he said.
“This policy will in turn boost the UK secondhand market, where most of us buy our cars, reducing drivers’ worries about making a living.”
But Ginny Buckley, chief executive of EV consumer advice site Electrifying.com, warned that many drivers still don’t feel confident about the prospect of driving an EV.
“Moving EV sales from one in four new cars to one in three by the end of the year won’t happen on pace alone. Along with the growing choice of EVs, buyers need confidence, clear messaging and policy stability.”
The government has taken several measures to promote electric vehicles in the last year.
They include the2BN Electric Car Grant Scheme, which provides up to £3,750 towards the cost of purchasing an electric vehicle, as well as significant funding for charging infrastructure.
However, in the autumn budget, it also announced plans for imposing a “per mile” tax on electric vehicles—a measure designed to compensate for some of the losses in fuel duty revenues due to the transition to electric vehicles.
According to the independent Office for Budget Responsibility, the incentive could generate about 320,000 additional EV sales over a five-year period. But it said the new tax was likely to cut sales by around 440,000 – bringing the total down by 120,000.
“That’s one of the challenges we see,” Hawes said.
“For this kind of technological change, you need consistent, coherent and compelling messaging and support.
“Even announcing a tax specifically on EVs would send very contradictory messages to consumers.”
Transport Minister Keir Mather stressed that government investment is “boosting EVs,” with sales increasing by almost 24% year over year, meaning one in four new cars sold is electric, and there will be almost half a million new EVs on UK roads by 2024.
A Cabinet revolt is brewing over upcoming business rate rises
As hospitality has been warned not to protest, Sky News can reveal.
Deputy political editor Sam Coates revealed on Politics at Sam & Anne’s podcast that there is “continued opposition at cabinet level” over the rise, and ministers are “not happy about it”.
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In the November budget the Chancellor…Rachel Reeves Changes to the way business rates are calculated, along with a new band for retail, hospitality and leisure, were announced – ending the relief scheme first introduced in 2020 during the pandemic.
The sector argues that the new business rates, although lower than pre-Covid rates, do not go far enough.
He says because the tax rate is based on qualified property values (an official estimate of the annual rental value of commercial property), they are disproportionately affected because they have physical stores, restaurants and pubs – unlike the online giants.
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Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged the industry will struggle with the new rates, telling LBC this week: “Obviously, what has happened is that there were cuts made during COVID, which were not always going to be OK.
“At some point, overall rates are going to go down. But I accept that because of revaluation, that means bills for some will go up.”
He said the government is providing transitional relief and they are looking at what else they can do, such as “licensing freedom”.
Chef Tom Kerridge, who owns four gastropubs, said his rateable value at The Coach in Marlow has increased by 100% from £50,000 to £106,000, which he described as “unsustainable”.
A number of pubs have already banned Labour MPs in protest at the changes.
However, Sky News understands that the government has been warning businesses not to object to the changes if they want to receive any concessions.
Read more:
Landlords say Reeves’ budget tax is ‘pub killer’ The rules-based system is ‘disintegrating before our eyes’
Why are pubs banning Labour MPs?
An industry insider said the government has been telling the business community that if they want help, they should take a lesson from farmers who were given relief just before Christmas when the government inheritance tax limit increased from £1m to £2.5m.
But the industry insider said the government were telling them that farmers were “good, fair negotiators, and they didn’t run a big campaign for it, which is why they got what they wanted.”
The message appears to have been confusing, as farmers protested for several months, with tractors blocking Whitehall becoming common.
image: Farmers lining up with tractors becomes common in Westminster in 2025. Photo: Reuters
Sam Coates said, “Anyone who has spent even a second watching those tractors being dropped in Whitehall and the mass campaign knows that this is absolute nonsense.
“What’s really happening here is that, despite the facts being completely false, this government is basically threatening the industry.
“The implication – I don’t know which Whitehall department it is, but clearly the implication is ‘if you want anything for your industry, then stop being so aggressive in your briefings.'”
“Now I don’t think it smacks of a government getting things on a firm footing.”
image: Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge said the rise is “unsustainable”
The Valuation Office Agency, which provides property valuations to the government, has stated that an increase in rateable value does not mean a corresponding increase in business rates, as there is transitional relief available, including:
• A £3.2 billion transitional relief plan to support the largest ratepayers, including airports and hospitality
• £500m to help small businesses
• A £1.3 billion extension of the Supportive Small Business Scheme for those who were eligible for retail, hospitality and leisure relief during the transition.
A further 10cm of snow could fall in parts of Scotland on Tuesday
Fresh warnings for snow and ice have been issued for much of the UK this week as Storm Goretti approaches.
The Met Office issued a yellow snow warning for almost the entire country on Wednesday, as well as snowfall warnings for parts of England and Wales on Thursday and Friday.
This weekend’s winter will be driven by Goretti, the first named storm of the yearby French prophets.
Hundreds of schools were closed across parts of Britain on Tuesday due to snow, with the country recording its coldest night of winter so far, with a low of -12.5°C (9.5°F) in Marham, Norfolk.
Some 384 schools have been closed in Wales, at least 320 in Scotland, 186 in Northern Ireland and more than 100 in England.
Delays and cancellations on the rail network continued on Tuesday. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) has advised people not to travel between Edinburgh and Aberdeen, saying there is “major disruption” to its network.
Eurostar lists delays and cancellations on some of its Amsterdam services. Heavy snowfall caused widespread rail and flight disruptions in other areas of Europe, as well as in the Dutch capital.
CalMac Ferries said services on the west coast of Scotland would be disrupted throughout the day. Several main roads were blocked in Wales Tuesday morning.
An amber warning of snowfall remains in place for parts of northern Scotland until 19:00 GMT on Tuesday, with widespread snowfall of between 5 cm and 10 cm forecast.
The Met Office says the amber warning indicates there is travel disruption, power cuts, and a potential threat to life and property, and people are advised to take precautions.
Less severe yellow warnings covering much of Britain ended on Tuesday morning, but forecasters say more disruptive weather is still to come. By Tuesday afternoon snow was falling as far south as central London.
pa media
Snow fell in London on Tuesday afternoon, including in front of the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in Westminster.
getty images
There has also been snowfall in Cheshire, north-west England
The havoc of cold does not seem to be ending soon.
The Met Office has issued a yellow warning for southwest England between 15:00 and midnight on Thursday for winds of 50-60 mph and occasional gusts of up to 70 mph along the coast.
as Storm Goretti passes across the English Channel,
Later on Thursday evening, as Storm Goretti passes across the English Channel, heavy rain will spread from the south as it meets colder air and turns to snow.
Up to 20 cm of rain is expected to fall in parts of England and Wales on Thursday night and Friday.
The yellow warning runs from 18:00 on Thursday until 12:00 on Friday, covering central and southern England and Wales.
getty images
There has been some disruption in road, rail and flights
The UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) has issued a winter health alert for England which will last until Friday.
The wintry conditions have triggered the government’s cold weather payments in 451 postcodes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Under the scheme, households receiving certain benefits automatically receive £25 if temperatures in their local area are recorded or forecast to be at or below 0°C for seven consecutive days.
Carl Racine/Getty Images
Winter weather has been felt in many areas of Britain in recent days
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Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland surrounded by snow
