Breaking News: UK Campaigners Blocked from US Entry Amid Visa Denials

Two British campaigners, Imran Ahmed and Clare Melford, have been denied entry to the United States, along with three others, after the US State Department accused them of seeking to coerce American social media platforms into suppressing viewpoints they oppose. The denials were made public just 15 minutes ago.

The US State Department has labelled the five individuals as part of a "global censorship-industrial complex" for their efforts to restrict American tech firms. Imran Ahmed, ex-Labour adviser and head of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), and Clare Melford, CEO of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI), were previously labelled "radical activists" by the Trump administration.

This move has sparked condemnation from European leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron describing it as "intimidation". The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, defended the decision, stating that President Trump has made it clear that his America First foreign policy will not tolerate efforts to restrict American tech firms.

The immediate impact of this decision is unclear, but it is likely to have significant implications for the global debate on online censorship and disinformation. As the situation develops, we will provide updates on any further developments.

This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.