Thirty-four former schoolmates say Nigel Farage displayed racist behaviour at school, citing repeated derogatory remarks and taunting. Farage denies being racist, describes the incidents as schoolboy banter, and says he will not apologise.

US forces seized a foreign-flagged oil tanker in the Atlantic for alleged sanctions evasion, ending a pursuit that began in the Caribbean. A second dark fleet vessel was intercepted in the region. Washington signalled tougher maritime enforcement and said crews would be treated humanely.

UK and France struck a coalition deal to deploy troops to an Eastern European ally once a peace agreement takes effect. They will set up support hubs for training, logistics and monitoring. Framed as a non-combat mission, it reinforces Western security guarantees and long-term deterrence.

Nicolás Maduro, the deposed Venezuelan leader, pleaded not guilty in a US court, insisting he remains president and calling himself a “prisoner of war”. He labelled the case political as prosecutors outlined allegations, with proceedings now set to continue.