By Press Association Reporters/The Independent

Sir Keir Starmer will seek to steady the ship amid a tumultuous rift between Donald Trump and European countries over Greenland as the US President marks one year in the White House.

The Prime Minister will hold talks with ministers at his weekly Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, following his call for calm in response to the US leader’s threats of a trade war.

Yvette Cooper will then face a grilling from MPs during Foreign Office questions in the Commons, where the crisis over the dispute over the mineral-rich Arctic territory is likely to feature high on the agenda.

The US president said on Monday evening he was 100% committed to hitting the UK and European allies with tariffs over their opposition to his plan to annex Greenland. 

US President Donald Trump has committed to hitting the UK and European allies with tariffs (Leon Neal/PA) (PA Wire)

The dispute caps the first year of Mr Trump’s second presidency, during which Sir Keir has sought to avoid public disagreements with the White House amid strained relations between the US and Europe.

The president has imposed import taxes on foreign nations and argued that Nato allies should increase their contributions to the military bloc. 

The Prime Minister’s approach has faced an unprecedented challenge over the last week as the US President heightened his threats to take over Greenland, a semi-autonomous region in the Kingdom of Denmark.

In an emergency press conference in Downing Street on Monday morning, Sir Keir said the future sovereignty of the territory was solely a matter for it and Denmark, adding: “The use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.“It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure.”

He said the dispute over the territory, which Mr Trump wants to take over because of its strategic Arctic location, should be resolved through “calm discussion between allies” rather than military action.

The US President again refused to rule out using the armed forces to seize the island just hours after Sir Keir’s press conference, during which he played down the prospect of a US invasion of Greenland.

Asked if he would use force to seize Greenland, the president told NBC News: “No comment.”

He also said that he would charge Britain a 10% tariff “on any and all goods” sent to the US from February 1, increasing to 25% from June 1, until a deal is reached for Washington to purchase Greenland from Denmark.

Mr Trump said the same would apply to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Finland – all of whom are members of Nato.

Mr Trump is expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this week, where Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also due to take part in a panel discussion alongside US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

A UK delegation will also include Trade Secretary Peter Kyle and Foreign Secretary Ms Cooper, though there are no current plans for Sir Keir to go, it is understood.

Mr Kyle said the Government is having “frank” talks with US officials over the tariff threat and is in regular contact with Mr Lutnick and American trade representative Jamieson Greer. 

“We have good, strong relationships. One of the things I’ve enjoyed in getting to know the US administration has been that they are all individual characters and very unique characters,” he said.

However, he added that the UK-US relationship had been “tested” and “of course, we’re having frank conversations.”

“But in my experience, all of the key protagonists in the administration thrive on frank conversations and wouldn’t have it any other way.”

There appeared to be an agreed condemnation of the US president’s latest actions across the political spectrum.

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge told the Press Association it was “absolutely critical” to stand up to Mr Trump’s threats through close engagement with the US administration, adding: “It is totally unacceptable, and I hope the wider American public, congressmen et cetera, recognise that and, of course, the administration.”

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for a package of tariffs on America coordinated with European allies after branding the US president’s actions “economic thuggery that cannot go unanswered”.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage suggested negotiation was a preferred response to a trade war, but described Mr Trump’s threats of tariffs as “wrong”, and said he would be “having some words with the American administration” about it in Davos. 

On Monday, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle welcomed Mike Johnson, the speaker of the US house of representatives, to Parliament.

Mr Johnson will address members of both Houses during an official visit on Tuesday to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence.

By JULIUS MBALUTO

Kenyan born Josiah Kimani has finally won a Councillor seat for Farnham Royal Parish in Buckinghamshire, UK. Josiah's victory comes after 12 years of resilience and hard work campaigning to get elected. Josiah is a community leader, ex-British Soldier and an entrepreneur.

Josiah was has been very elated by this victory.  

"This moment brings special meaning for me. Since 2014, I have stood for election in Colnbrook with Poyle, Wexham and Britwell in Slough, UK, conceding defeat each time by some narrow margins. Those years tested my determination and at the same time increased my commitment to public service. I'm truly honoured to serve the parishioners of Farnham Royal, guided by a deeply held belief in servant  leadership and community stewardship. I extend my sincere thanks to everyone who stood by me throughout this journey." He said.

Josiah's victory is a story of resilience, patience and focus. It goes to show, truly, success is as a result of unremitting attention to a purpose. As he becomes a bearer of a new title, Councillor, Josiah is keen to serve his constituent with a will and a servant leadership method focused on delivering. We wish him all the best. 

More than 35 judges and magistrates from across South Africa have completed two Commonwealth train-the-trainer workshops, designed to strengthen how courts handle cybercrime cases. 

Participants will now go on to train their peers in the justice system, sharing practical knowledge and consistent approaches. This will help improve how courts deal with crimes committed online, as well as cases involving electronic evidence that affect people and businesses every day. 

Supported by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, the two workshops were held in Johannesburg from 1-5 December 2025 and 12-15 January 2026, in partnership with the South African Judicial Education Institute. 

Using group exercises and mock cases, judges and magistrates worked through the key steps courts deal with every day. This included how electronic evidence is collected and admitted, how legal safeguards are applied, and how fair and proportionate decisions are made to hold offenders to account. 

Participants also led mini-training sessions on key issues, including standard procedures for issuing search warrants, handling electronic evidence and applying mutual legal assistance in court proceedings.. 

One participant, Judge Nolonwabo Balele from the Free State province, said the training clarified how to handle digital evidence in court. 

She said: "The main thing I learned is how digital evidence should be admitted, what to look for, and how to balance that evidence while protecting the rights of the accused." 

Judge Balele also highlighted the responsibility judges have in protecting vulnerable victims, particularly women and girls. 

She added: "Judges are the buffer between society and those who target the vulnerable. The lives of vulnerable people are in the hands of judges once cases come before the court." 

Judge Balele said the impact of the training would extend beyond the workshops, adding that participants would pass on the knowledge to judges across the country to bolster the response to cybercrime. 

Acting Judge President Andre Petersen from South Africa's North West province described cybercrime as a serious challenge, saying it has "worrying impacts" on businesses, public institutions and citizens, with annual costs exceeding ZAR 2.2 billion. 

He added: "Judges are trained in the law, but most judges are not tech-savvy. This workshop helps judges learn the intricacies of digital crimes and identify our shortcomings. 

"We need a judiciary that can keep pace with the digital age and is not stuck in the age before technology, and that is why this initiative is so important." 

Judge Petersen expressed hope that continued judicial training would help courts stay ahead of criminals and reduce the impact of cybercrime in South Africa. 

In his remarks, British High Commissioner to South Africa Antony Phillipson highlighted the urgency of the challenge, citing a 2024 survey which found that 47 per cent of organisations in South Africa experienced at least one cyber-attack. 

He said: "The whole breadth of our law enforcement landscape needs to be equipped to deal with this issue. Judges are critical stakeholders in the cyber law enforcement pipeline. Having them all present is an important opportunity to help build resilience against our shared cyber threats." 

Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Professor Luis G. Franceschi encouraged participants to share what they have learned with colleagues to strengthen how courts handle cybercrime cases, adding: "We cannot guarantee success, but we guarantee failure by giving up." 

Since 2018, the Commonwealth Secretariat has trained more than 2,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judicial officials from 55 of the 56 Commonwealth member countries.