The popularity of video conferencing app&nbsp;Houseparty&nbsp;has skyrocketed in United Kingdom due to the lockdown imposed in the country.

From the British royals to the&nbsp;ministers or even Boy George, the app&nbsp;has&nbsp;become the nation's most popular isolation choice.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-hacking-rumour-houseparty-app-offers-1-million-reward-as-evidence-for-sabotage-289720">After hacking rumour, Houseparty app offers $1 million reward as evidence for sabotage</a>

As a result the service, which allows up to eight people to share the same chat and hop uninvited between mutual friends’ conversations, has been transformed in the space of a few weeks into a venue where the public stand a chance of inadvertently bumping into notable figures.

At least four serving British cabinet ministers are on the app, including health secretary Matt Hancock, currently self-isolating with coronavirus.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quarantine-together-new-dating-app-links-you-to-new-people-but-only-if-you-wash-hands-289419" hreflang="en">Quarantine Together: New dating app links you to new people, but only if you wash hands!</a>

Keir Starmer, the frontrunner to become the next Labour leader this weekend, has also been spotted on the service, along with many Labour frontbenchers.

Users also found Culture Club frontman Boy George using the app to combat virus blues.

Downloads of the application rose from an average of 130,000 in&nbsp;mid-February to 2 million a week in the middle of March, according to Apptopia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/social-distancing-appears-to-have-slowed-coronavirus-spread-says-study-289684" hreflang="en">Social distancing appears to have slowed coronavirus spread, says study</a>

The app has been around for about four years but was picked up last year by Epic Games, the company behind the popular video game Fortnite.

Online rumours had emerged on Monday that the Spotify, Netflix and even bank accounts accounts of customers got hacked after downloading the application.&nbsp;

However, the app's owner announced&nbsp;a reward of $1 million&nbsp;for providing a proof regarding its involvement in&nbsp;a commercial smear campaign.

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We are investigating indications that the recent hacking rumors were spread by a paid commercial smear campaign to harm Houseparty. We are offering a $1,000,000 bounty for the first individual to provide proof of such a campaign to bounty@houseparty.com.
— Houseparty (@houseparty) <a href="https://twitter.com/houseparty/status/1244827034406121472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The popularity of video conferencing app Houseparty has skyrocketed in United Kingdom due to the lockdown imposed in the country. From the British royals to the ministers or even Boy George, the app has become the nation's most popular isolation choice.

The popularity of video conferencing app Houseparty has skyrocketed in United Kingdom due to the lockdown imposed in the country. From the British royals to the ministers or even Boy George, the app has become the nation's most popular isolation choice. Also read: After hacking rumour, Houseparty app offers $1 million reward as evidence for sabotage As a result the service, which allows up to eight people to share the same chat and hop uninvited between mutual friends’ conversations, has been transformed in the space of a few weeks into a venue where the public stand a chance of inadvertently bumping into notable figures. At least four serving British cabinet ministers are on the app, including health secretary Matt Hancock, currently self-isolating with coronavirus. Also read: Quarantine Together: New dating app links you to new people, but only if you wash hands! Keir Starmer, the frontrunner to become the next Labour leader this weekend, has also been spotted on the service, along with many Labour frontbenchers. Users also found Culture Club frontman Boy George using the app to combat virus blues. Downloads of the application rose from an average of 130,000 in mid-February to 2 million a week in the middle of March, according to Apptopia. Also read: Social distancing appears to have slowed coronavirus spread, says study The app has been around for about four years but was picked up last year by Epic Games, the company behind the popular video game Fortnite. Online rumours had emerged on Monday that the Spotify, Netflix and even bank accounts accounts of customers got hacked after downloading the application. However, the app's owner announced a reward of $1 million for providing a proof regarding its involvement in a commercial smear campaign. We are investigating indications that the recent hacking rumors were spread by a paid commercial smear campaign to harm Houseparty. We are offering a $1,000,000 bounty for the first individual to provide proof of such a campaign to bounty@houseparty.com. — Houseparty (@houseparty) March 31, 2020 ×

How the Houseparty app has become UK's platform to socialise?

British foreign minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-exclaimed-with-f-word-in-reaction-to-soleimanis-killing-in-us-airstrikes-272225">Dominic Raab</a> said on Sunday he understood why the United States had killed a top Iranian military commander but urged a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East to avoid war in the region.

Iran condemned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-media-challenges-vice-president-mike-pences-claims-of-soleimani-assisting-911-terrorists-272199">Donald Trump</a> as a "terrorist in a suit" after the US president threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites if Tehran attacks Americans or US&nbsp;assets in retaliation for the killing of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-will-respond-to-soleimani-killing-any-time-in-any-manner-foreign-minister-zarif-272013">Qassem Soleimani</a> on Friday.

Raab, who is due to meet with US&nbsp;Secretary of State <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mike-pompeo-accuses-europeans-of-not-being-helpful-after-us-strikes-272098">Mike Pompeo</a> in Washington on Thursday, said he had spoken to Iraq's prime minister and president and also planned to speak to Iran's foreign minister later on Sunday.

"We want to de-escalate the tensions, we want to see a route through this crisis. We do not want to see a major war in the Middle East. The only group of players that would benefit from that would be the terrorists and Daesh," he told the BBC.

Raab said Soleimani was a "regional menace" and he understood "the position the Americans found themselves in".

Asked if the killing was legal, Raab said: "It was General Soleimani’s job description to engage proxies and militias to attack Western countries that were legitimately there and in those circumstances the right of self-defence clearly applies."

Raab said <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/soleimanis-killing-uk-pm-boris-johnson-under-pressure-to-cut-short-caribbean-vacation-272084">Britain</a>, which on Saturday warned its citizens against travel to Iraq and Iran, was taking "every essential measure" to reduce the risk to British nationals, diplomatic missions and military personnel.

He said the leadership in Tehran needed to know that there was a diplomatic way out.

"There is a route through which allows Iran to come in from out of the international cold," he told Sky News. "We need to contain the nefarious actions of Iran but we also need to deescalate and stabilise the situation."

Opposition Labour lawmaker <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-presses-election-rival-jeremy-corbyn-to-explain-brexit-stance-260104">Keir Starmer</a>, the bookmakers' favourite to win the party's upcoming leadership contest, said the killing of Soleiman was the "unilateral act of an irrational and erratic president".

"We cannot blindly follow the Americans into what could well turn out to be a war in the Middle East," he told the BBC.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday he understood why the United States had killed a top Iranian military commander but urged a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East to avoid war in the region.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Sunday he understood why the United States had killed a top Iranian military commander but urged a de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East to avoid war in the region. Iran condemned Donald Trump as a "terrorist in a suit" after the US president threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani on Friday. Raab, who is due to meet with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Thursday, said he had spoken to Iraq's prime minister and president and also planned to speak to Iran's foreign minister later on Sunday. "We want to de-escalate the tensions, we want to see a route through this crisis. We do not want to see a major war in the Middle East. The only group of players that would benefit from that would be the terrorists and Daesh," he told the BBC. Raab said Soleimani was a "regional menace" and he understood "the position the Americans found themselves in". Asked if the killing was legal, Raab said: "It was General Soleimani’s job description to engage proxies and militias to attack Western countries that were legitimately there and in those circumstances the right of self-defence clearly applies." Raab said Britain, which on Saturday warned its citizens against travel to Iraq and Iran, was taking "every essential measure" to reduce the risk to British nationals, diplomatic missions and military personnel. He said the leadership in Tehran needed to know that there was a diplomatic way out. "There is a route through which allows Iran to come in from out of the international cold," he told Sky News. "We need to contain the nefarious actions of Iran but we also need to deescalate and stabilise the situation." Opposition Labour lawmaker Keir Starmer, the bookmakers' favourite to win the party's upcoming leadership contest, said the killing of Soleiman was the "unilateral act of an irrational and erratic president". "We cannot blindly follow the Americans into what could well turn out to be a war in the Middle East," he told the BBC.

British foreign minister calls for de-escalation of tensions after killing of 'menace' Soleimani

Boris Johnson launches his campaign Wednesday to replace Theresa May as Britain's next leader, as lawmakers moved to stop him and other hardliners from delivering a "no deal" Brexit.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-candidate-johnson-criticised-for-avoiding-scrutiny-226261">former foreign secretary </a>is the favourite among 10 candidates to succeed May, who quit after failing to take Britain out of the European Union on schedule.

May has delayed Brexit twice -- most recently to October 31 -- as she tried and failed to get her divorce deal through parliament.

Johnson, a leading figure in the 2016 referendum vote to leave, has said he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/boris-johnson-wins-brexit-case-hounding-his-leadership-bid-225320">will deliver on the result</a> with or without a deal with Brussels.

"After three years and two missed deadlines, we must leave the EU on October 31," he said ahead of his official campaign launch.

He warned that failure would see the ruling Conservatives lose at the next election to leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party.

"Delay means defeat. Delay means Corbyn. Kick the can and we kick the bucket," he said.

However, opposition parties backed by some Conservatives are putting forward a motion in parliament's lower House of Commons to seek to block any attempt to leave the EU with no deal.

They fear that severing ties overnight with Britain's biggest trading partner would bring huge economic disruption.

In a repeat of moves earlier this year, the MPs will try to take control of the Commons timetable on June 25, which would allow them to introduce a law that might stop "no deal".

"The Tory debate on Brexit has descended into the disturbing, ludicrous and reckless," said Labour Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer.&nbsp;

"We can't be bystanders while the next prime minister forces through a no-deal without the consent of the British people."

Johnson has a chequered history, arguably known more for his gaffes and jokes than his achievements both as mayor of London and foreign minister.

But he has a national presence, known across Britain just as Boris, and is seen as more charismatic than his rivals.

He warned that Corbyn must not be allowed to win an election.

"The last time I faced an emanation of that Marxist cabal I defeated him when the Conservatives were 17 points behind in London," he said.

"And we can do it again."

Boris Johnson launches his campaign Wednesday to replace Theresa May as Britain's next leader, as lawmakers moved to stop him and other hardliners from delivering a "no deal" Brexit.

Boris Johnson launches his campaign Wednesday to replace Theresa May as Britain's next leader, as lawmakers moved to stop him and other hardliners from delivering a "no deal" Brexit. The former foreign secretary is the favourite among 10 candidates to succeed May, who quit after failing to take Britain out of the European Union on schedule. May has delayed Brexit twice -- most recently to October 31 -- as she tried and failed to get her divorce deal through parliament. Johnson, a leading figure in the 2016 referendum vote to leave, has said he will deliver on the result with or without a deal with Brussels. "After three years and two missed deadlines, we must leave the EU on October 31," he said ahead of his official campaign launch. He warned that failure would see the ruling Conservatives lose at the next election to leftist leader Jeremy Corbyn's Labour party. "Delay means defeat. Delay means Corbyn. Kick the can and we kick the bucket," he said. However, opposition parties backed by some Conservatives are putting forward a motion in parliament's lower House of Commons to seek to block any attempt to leave the EU with no deal. They fear that severing ties overnight with Britain's biggest trading partner would bring huge economic disruption. In a repeat of moves earlier this year, the MPs will try to take control of the Commons timetable on June 25, which would allow them to introduce a law that might stop "no deal". "The Tory debate on Brexit has descended into the disturbing, ludicrous and reckless," said Labour Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer. "We can't be bystanders while the next prime minister forces through a no-deal without the consent of the British people." Johnson has a chequered history, arguably known more for his gaffes and jokes than his achievements both as mayor of London and foreign minister. But he has a national presence, known across Britain just as Boris, and is seen as more charismatic than his rivals. He warned that Corbyn must not be allowed to win an election. "The last time I faced an emanation of that Marxist cabal I defeated him when the Conservatives were 17 points behind in London," he said. "And we can do it again."

Boris Johnson launches UK leadership bid as MPs warn on Brexit

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How the Houseparty app has become UK's platform to socialise?

British foreign minister calls for de-escalation of tensions after killing of 'menace' Soleimani

Boris Johnson launches UK leadership bid as MPs warn on Brexit