In pics | US-UK strikes against Houthis spark massive protests across Yemen

Fears of a regional war linger, with more countries now being involved in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. US has carried out additional strikes on Houthi-linked targets in Yemen. Earlier on Friday, US and British forces targeted nearly 30 sites with more than 150 munitions in Yemen in their first round of strikes.

Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US

Why has China's Mystery Space Plane spooked the US Space Force? 14 killed in Prague in one of the deadliest Mass Shootings in the Czech Republic. North Korea launches Hwasong-18 amidst heightened Nuclear rhetoric & millions in Sudan have been uprooted from their homes in the deadly Civil War. Mohammed Saleh gets you an in depth report of the World's biggest warzones of the week in World At War.

Why has China's Mystery Space Plane spooked the US Space Force?

Leaders of major Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada rejected South Africa’s case against Israel which accuses it of genocide amid the ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Meanwhile, Turkey has said that it will provide documents, mostly visuals, on Israel’s attacks on Gaza.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Canada does not accept…’</h2>

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Friday (Jan 12) said that he&nbsp;does not accept South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.&nbsp;

When asked by reporters during a recent press conference, the Canadian PM said that Ottawa is a strong backer of the United Nation’s top court but “that does not mean that we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa.”

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;Israel Genocide Trial: Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests break outside ICJ building

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Notably, Trudeau has come under criticism as he initially backed Israel’s right to defend itself but later changed his tune amid the mounting death toll in Gaza.&nbsp;

“He sends out some of his MPs (Members of Parliament) to claim that they support calling Israel genocidal when they’re talking to one group of voters. And then he sends out another group to say that they’re against calling Israel genocidal,” said Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Completely unjustified and wrong’</h2>

A spokesperson for the UK PM Rishi Sunak said that Sunak believed South Africa’s case against Israel was “completely unjustified and wrong.” He added, “The UK government stands by Israel’s clear right to defend itself within the framework of international law.”&nbsp;

<h2>Germany to intervene in ICJ case?</h2>

In what can be seen as the strongest show of support for Israel, aside from the United States the German government, on Friday (Jan 12), said that it is planning to intervene in the ongoing genocide case at the World Court.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-rebuffs-genocide-charges-calls-south-africas-allegations-baseless-679474">Israel rebuffs genocide charges by South Africa, calls allegations 'baseless'</a>

“German government firmly and explicitly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made against Israel before the International Court of Justice. This accusation has no basis whatsoever,” said spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in a statement.&nbsp;

Berlin would be able to intervene in the proceedings at The Hague in line with an article which allows states to seek clarification on the use of a multilateral convention. Hebestreit said Israel was “defending itself” after the “inhuman” attacks by Hamas on October 7.&nbsp;

“In view of Germany’s history, crimes against humanity, and Shoah the government is particularly committed to the UN Genocide Convention,” Hebestreit said.

He added, “The German government supports the International Court of Justice in its work, as it has done for many decades. The government intends to intervene as a third party in the main hearing.”&nbsp;

<h2>South Africa’s claims are ‘unfounded’</h2>

US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, on Thursday (Jan 11) after South Africa’s representatives had presented their case said, “That is not a characterisation that I would make from up here about our South African partners.”&nbsp;

He added, “The allegation that Israel is committing genocide is unfounded.”&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-reacts-to-genocide-accusations-calls-south-africa-legal-arm-of-hamas-679055">&nbsp;Israel reacts to genocide accusations at UN court hearing, calls South Africa 'legal arm' of Hamas</a>

Similarly, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also called the genocide allegations “unfounded,” saying that it is not a word “that ought to be thrown around lightly, and we certainly don’t believe that it applies here.”&nbsp;

<h2>Turkey to provide documents</h2>

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday told reporters in Istanbul that Turkey would continue to provide documents, mostly visuals, on Israel’s attacks on Gaza. “I believe Israel will be convicted there. We believe in the justice of the International Court of Justice,” said Erdogan.&nbsp;

<h2>South Africa’s case</h2>

South Africa launched an emergency case at the ICJ accusing Israel of violating the UN Genocide Convention which was signed in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust.&nbsp;

Pretoria seeks a judgement where Israel is ordered to “immediately” halt its ongoing counteroffensive in Gaza. Israel has dismissed the case as “atrocious” and “preposterous” and even called South Africa a “legal arm” of Hamas.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

Leaders of major Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada rejected South Africa’s case against Israel which accuses it of genocide amid the ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza.

Leaders of major Western countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada rejected South Africa’s case against Israel which accuses it of genocide amid the ongoing war with the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza. Meanwhile, Turkey has said that it will provide documents, mostly visuals, on Israel’s attacks on Gaza. ‘Canada does not accept…’ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, on Friday (Jan 12) said that he does not accept South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which accuses Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. When asked by reporters during a recent press conference, the Canadian PM said that Ottawa is a strong backer of the United Nation’s top court but “that does not mean that we support the premise of the case brought forward by South Africa.” ALSO WATCH | Israel Genocide Trial: Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine protests break outside ICJ building Notably, Trudeau has come under criticism as he initially backed Israel’s right to defend itself but later changed his tune amid the mounting death toll in Gaza. “He sends out some of his MPs (Members of Parliament) to claim that they support calling Israel genocidal when they’re talking to one group of voters. And then he sends out another group to say that they’re against calling Israel genocidal,” said Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. ‘Completely unjustified and wrong’ A spokesperson for the UK PM Rishi Sunak said that Sunak believed South Africa’s case against Israel was “completely unjustified and wrong.” He added, “The UK government stands by Israel’s clear right to defend itself within the framework of international law.” Germany to intervene in ICJ case? In what can be seen as the strongest show of support for Israel, aside from the United States the German government, on Friday (Jan 12), said that it is planning to intervene in the ongoing genocide case at the World Court. ALSO READ | Israel rebuffs genocide charges by South Africa, calls allegations 'baseless' “German government firmly and explicitly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been made against Israel before the International Court of Justice. This accusation has no basis whatsoever,” said spokesman Steffen Hebestreit in a statement. Berlin would be able to intervene in the proceedings at The Hague in line with an article which allows states to seek clarification on the use of a multilateral convention. Hebestreit said Israel was “defending itself” after the “inhuman” attacks by Hamas on October 7. “In view of Germany’s history, crimes against humanity, and Shoah the government is particularly committed to the UN Genocide Convention,” Hebestreit said. He added, “The German government supports the International Court of Justice in its work, as it has done for many decades. The government intends to intervene as a third party in the main hearing.” South Africa’s claims are ‘unfounded’ US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel, on Thursday (Jan 11) after South Africa’s representatives had presented their case said, “That is not a characterisation that I would make from up here about our South African partners.” He added, “The allegation that Israel is committing genocide is unfounded.” ALSO READ | Israel reacts to genocide accusations at UN court hearing, calls South Africa 'legal arm' of Hamas Similarly, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also called the genocide allegations “unfounded,” saying that it is not a word “that ought to be thrown around lightly, and we certainly don’t believe that it applies here.” Turkey to provide documents Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Friday told reporters in Istanbul that Turkey would continue to provide documents, mostly visuals, on Israel’s attacks on Gaza. “I believe Israel will be convicted there. We believe in the justice of the International Court of Justice,” said Erdogan. South Africa’s case South Africa launched an emergency case at the ICJ accusing Israel of violating the UN Genocide Convention which was signed in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust. Pretoria seeks a judgement where Israel is ordered to “immediately” halt its ongoing counteroffensive in Gaza. Israel has dismissed the case as “atrocious” and “preposterous” and even called South Africa a “legal arm” of Hamas. (With inputs from agencies)

Israel ‘genocide’ case: Western countries reject S. Africa’s charges; Turkey to provide documents

US carries out more strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM)&nbsp;on Friday (January 12) said that two US Navy sailors had gone missing off the coast of Somalia since Thursday. Without&nbsp;releasing the&nbsp;names of the sailors who went missing, CENTCOM said that the navy personnel were deployed in area of operation of US Navy's 5th Fleet.

"Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors,” it said in a statement. “For operational security purposes, we will not release additional information until the personnel recovery operation is complete.”

US Navy's 5th Fleet has an operational area of around 2.5 million square miles of waters. These include the Arabian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea.

Watch | Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US

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The waters around Somalia, the so-called 'Horn of Africa' are infamous for pirate raids on commercial ships traversing the waterways. The armed pirates are known to use fast-moving boats to chase and board the much slower cargo ships&nbsp;and hijack them.

Navies from multiple countries including India, which has a strong naval presence in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean have deployed naval resources including warships in these waters to provide security to international shipping.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-carries-out-new-strike-in-yemen-after-biden-vows-to-respond-to-houthis-outrageous-behaviour-679489">US carries out new strikes in Yemen after Biden vows to protect shipping in Red Sea</a>

Additionally, shipping lanes in the Red Sea, one of the operational areas of US Navy's 5th fleet, are in news because of&nbsp;attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships. Red Sea is a vital waterway which leads to Suez Canal, a crossing connecting Asia to European.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-blinken-discusses-human-rights-with-chinese-official-urges-beijing-to-maintain-cross-strait-stability-679518">US' Blinken discusses human rights with Chinese official, urges Beijing to maintain cross-strait stability</a>

The Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial ships passing through the Red Sea for weeks now. The Yemen-based rebels enjoy support from Iran and have been claiming that their attack on shipping was their way of showing support to the Palestinian cause in the context of ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out strikes against Houthi rebels, who in turn, have vowed to retaliate.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday (January 12) said that two US Navy sailors had gone missing off the coast of Somalia since Thursday. Without releasing the names of the sailors who went missing, CENTCOM said that the navy personnel were deployed in area of operation of US Navy's 5th Fleet.

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday (January 12) said that two US Navy sailors had gone missing off the coast of Somalia since Thursday. Without releasing the names of the sailors who went missing, CENTCOM said that the navy personnel were deployed in area of operation of US Navy's 5th Fleet. "Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors,” it said in a statement. “For operational security purposes, we will not release additional information until the personnel recovery operation is complete.” US Navy's 5th Fleet has an operational area of around 2.5 million square miles of waters. These include the Arabian Gulf, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. Watch | Yemen's Houthis fired anti-ship missile after attack in Yemen: US × The waters around Somalia, the so-called 'Horn of Africa' are infamous for pirate raids on commercial ships traversing the waterways. The armed pirates are known to use fast-moving boats to chase and board the much slower cargo ships and hijack them. Navies from multiple countries including India, which has a strong naval presence in the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean have deployed naval resources including warships in these waters to provide security to international shipping. Also Read | US carries out new strikes in Yemen after Biden vows to protect shipping in Red Sea Additionally, shipping lanes in the Red Sea, one of the operational areas of US Navy's 5th fleet, are in news because of attacks by Houthi rebels on commercial ships. Red Sea is a vital waterway which leads to Suez Canal, a crossing connecting Asia to European. Also Read | US' Blinken discusses human rights with Chinese official, urges Beijing to maintain cross-strait stability The Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial ships passing through the Red Sea for weeks now. The Yemen-based rebels enjoy support from Iran and have been claiming that their attack on shipping was their way of showing support to the Palestinian cause in the context of ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The United States and the United Kingdom have carried out strikes against Houthi rebels, who in turn, have vowed to retaliate. (With inputs from agencies)

US Navy sailors go missing off Somalia coast, search underway

Fears of a regional war linger, with more countries now being involved in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. US has carried out additional strikes on Houthi-linked targets in Yemen. Earlier on Friday, US and British forces targeted nearly 30 sites with more than 150 munitions in Yemen in their first round of strikes. Watch to know more!

US-UK Airstrikes on Yemen: Will retaliate if Houthis continue outrageous behavior, says Biden

Brexit did more harm than good to the British economy. That's what one can infer from london mayor Sadiq Khan's latest statement, which has pegged Britain's economic losses since brexit at $178 billion per year.

Brexit costs UK economy $178 bn

Prince Harry will be honoured with the "Living Legend of Aviation" award, next week. This decision has been criticised by veterans who have questioned the basis of giving him that title.

Gravitas | Is Prince Harry a ‘Living Legend of Aviation'?

One of the biggest attacks by the Houthis in the Red Sea till date, they have fired missiles and drones. The US and the UK forces have shot down 21 drones and missiles. This was the 26th attack Yemeni Houthis.

US & UK attack Houthis: Strikes backed by Australia, Canada, Bahrain & the Netherlands

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asserted that Britain's departure from the European Union has inflicted a significant economic toll, reducing the country's economy by 6 per cent so far - equating to an annual cost of £140 billion ($178 billion). <o:p></o:p>

This is based on a Reuters report.<o:p></o:p>

The mayor, a vocal critic of Brexit from the Labour Party, referred to a report commissioned from economic consultants Cambridge Econometrics. <o:p></o:p>

The report estimates that the economic impact could deepen to a 10 per cent reduction by 2035, signalling a substantial setback for the UK economy.<o:p></o:p>

Reuters cited a released statement, wherein Mayor Khan expressed his concern about the economic consequences of the chosen Brexit path, stating, "It's now obvious that Brexit isn't working. The hard-line version of Brexit we've ended up with is dragging our economy down and pushing up the cost of living." <o:p></o:p>

The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, holds a considerable lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives ahead of an anticipated election later this year. <o:p></o:p>

However, the party has been cautious in detailing its plans for strengthening ties with the EU.<o:p></o:p>

Cambridge Econometrics, the economic consultancy behind the report, estimates the costs of Brexit to be higher than some recent analyses. <o:p></o:p>

Contrasting with the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which estimated a 2-3 per cent reduction in the size of the economy in November, Cambridge Econometrics suggests a 6 per cent decrease. <o:p></o:p>

The impact is expected to intensify, reaching 5 per cent-6 per cent by 2035. <o:p></o:p>

The bank of England policymaker, Jonathan Haskel, had privately estimated that Brexit could lower GDP by 1.3 per cent by the end of 2022, equivalent to £1,000 per household annually.<o:p></o:p>

The repercussions of Brexit, complicated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after the UK formally left the EU in January 2020, continue to shape economic trends.<o:p></o:p>

The economic consultancy further forecasts that Brexit will lower annual economic growth by 0.4 percentage points between now and 2035, result in a reduction of 3 million jobs, and lead to a one-third decrease in investment. <o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Reuters)<o:p></o:p>

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asserted that Britain's departure from the European Union has inflicted a significant economic toll, reducing the country's economy by 6 per cent so far - equating to an annual cost of £140 billion ($178 billion).

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asserted that Britain's departure from the European Union has inflicted a significant economic toll, reducing the country's economy by 6 per cent so far - equating to an annual cost of £140 billion ($178 billion). This is based on a Reuters report. The mayor, a vocal critic of Brexit from the Labour Party, referred to a report commissioned from economic consultants Cambridge Econometrics. The report estimates that the economic impact could deepen to a 10 per cent reduction by 2035, signalling a substantial setback for the UK economy. Reuters cited a released statement, wherein Mayor Khan expressed his concern about the economic consequences of the chosen Brexit path, stating, "It's now obvious that Brexit isn't working. The hard-line version of Brexit we've ended up with is dragging our economy down and pushing up the cost of living." The Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, holds a considerable lead over Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservatives ahead of an anticipated election later this year. However, the party has been cautious in detailing its plans for strengthening ties with the EU. Cambridge Econometrics, the economic consultancy behind the report, estimates the costs of Brexit to be higher than some recent analyses. Contrasting with the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR), which estimated a 2-3 per cent reduction in the size of the economy in November, Cambridge Econometrics suggests a 6 per cent decrease. The impact is expected to intensify, reaching 5 per cent-6 per cent by 2035. The bank of England policymaker, Jonathan Haskel, had privately estimated that Brexit could lower GDP by 1.3 per cent by the end of 2022, equivalent to £1,000 per household annually. The repercussions of Brexit, complicated by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic shortly after the UK formally left the EU in January 2020, continue to shape economic trends. The economic consultancy further forecasts that Brexit will lower annual economic growth by 0.4 percentage points between now and 2035, result in a reduction of 3 million jobs, and lead to a one-third decrease in investment. (With inputs from Reuters)

London Mayor Sadiq Khan claims Brexit's cost to UK exceeds $178 billion

US President Joe Biden says, 'US, UK successfully struck Houthi targets' | World DNA

The United States and Britain launched strikes against sites linked to the Houthi movement in Yemen, the first on the country since the Iran-backed group started targeting international shipping in the Red Sea late last year.

Biden: UK, US successfully struck Houthi targets in Yemen

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's emergency bill that aimed at reviving his plan to send Asylum Seekers to Rwanda avoided defeat in Parliament. The House of Commons witnessed a rebellion by dozens of Sunak's own lawmakers exposing deep divisions within his party after a day of last-minute negotiations and parliamentary drama Sunak secured the victory order.

UK government says Rwanda plan violates human rights, has issues with human rights record

The British Parliament has turned into a mouse house. There have been a total of 1,000 sightings of rats & other vermin inside the parliament building in the last 3 years. Molly Gambhir brings you a report.

Gravitas: British Parliament turns into a 'mouse house'

It's a war in the Red Sea. Maritime trade through this critical passage for world trade has been hit by relentless Houthi attacks as Yemen's rebel group seeks to avenge the continuous Israeli assault on Palestinians in Gaza. Their target is Western shipping. The U.S. has mobilized heavily in the waters and many countries have rushed warships to the region. But is this strategy working?

Brewing conflict in Red Sea: UN Security Council's resoluti sponsored by US & Japan | WION

Battle for Red Sea: UNSC resolution on Red Sea Houthi attacks, calls for Houthis to 'stop attacks'

In the miscarriage of Justice in the UK Post Office Scandal the Japanese based Fujitsu company is facing the heat in the late 1990s the company had set up a horizon IT system flaws which led to hundreds of people being wrongly accused.

UK MPs to question Fujitsu executives over its role in scandal

In a bid to avert a looming financial crisis within the UK's town halls, Simon Hoare, the Minister for Local Government, is encouraging councils to utilise their reserves for day-to-day expenses.<o:p></o:p>

According to Bloomberg, Hoare emphasised that the reserves, often allocated for emergencies, should be deployed cautiously to benefit communities. <o:p></o:p>

He argued that many councils bolstered their rainy-day funds during the pandemic and that tapping into these reserves is a sensible approach.<o:p></o:p>

However, the call has faced criticism from the Labour opposition, deeming it "ridiculous," along with scepticism from local authorities.<o:p></o:p>

At the Local Government Association conference on council finances, Minister Simon Hoare defended the idea. <o:p></o:p>

"Reserves are not there to be guarded like they are the sort of flame of the vestal virgins, never to be touched. They are to be used prudently and sensibly for the benefit of communities," Bloomberg quoted Hoare as saying. <o:p></o:p>

He emphasised that the reserves are up post-Covid and encouraged councils to leverage these funds.<o:p></o:p>

However, Labour's shadow minister, Jim McMahon, criticised the notion, stating that tapping into one-off reserves to address financial pressures is "ridiculous" and that the higher the risk, the more reserves are needed.<o:p></o:p>

The government's urging of councils to use reserves for day-to-day spending, such as employing staff and running public services, contradicts the usual advice to maintain reserves for sudden emergencies and to even out cash flow. <o:p></o:p>

The Local Government Association (LGA) has cautioned that one in five councils are on the verge of declaring effective bankruptcy in the coming year or two. <o:p></o:p>

Despite ministerial assurances that the number of councils at risk is lower, the LGA maintains that cuts to central government grants, inflation, and rising service demand have left many councils financially strained.<o:p></o:p>

(With inputs from Bloomberg)<o:p></o:p>

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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In a bid to avert a looming financial crisis within the UK's town halls, Simon Hoare, the Minister for Local Government, is encouraging councils to utilise their reserves for day-to-day expenses.

In a bid to avert a looming financial crisis within the UK's town halls, Simon Hoare, the Minister for Local Government, is encouraging councils to utilise their reserves for day-to-day expenses. According to Bloomberg, Hoare emphasised that the reserves, often allocated for emergencies, should be deployed cautiously to benefit communities. He argued that many councils bolstered their rainy-day funds during the pandemic and that tapping into these reserves is a sensible approach. However, the call has faced criticism from the Labour opposition, deeming it "ridiculous," along with scepticism from local authorities. At the Local Government Association conference on council finances, Minister Simon Hoare defended the idea. "Reserves are not there to be guarded like they are the sort of flame of the vestal virgins, never to be touched. They are to be used prudently and sensibly for the benefit of communities," Bloomberg quoted Hoare as saying. He emphasised that the reserves are up post-Covid and encouraged councils to leverage these funds. However, Labour's shadow minister, Jim McMahon, criticised the notion, stating that tapping into one-off reserves to address financial pressures is "ridiculous" and that the higher the risk, the more reserves are needed. The government's urging of councils to use reserves for day-to-day spending, such as employing staff and running public services, contradicts the usual advice to maintain reserves for sudden emergencies and to even out cash flow. The Local Government Association (LGA) has cautioned that one in five councils are on the verge of declaring effective bankruptcy in the coming year or two. Despite ministerial assurances that the number of councils at risk is lower, the LGA maintains that cuts to central government grants, inflation, and rising service demand have left many councils financially strained. (With inputs from Bloomberg) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

UK government urges councils to dip into reserves amid financial crisis concerns

A new report on sexual abuse against children in the UK has revealed some shocking details. It says most of these crimes are being committed by children themselves. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas | Study: More Children are perpetrating sexual abuse than adults

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that his government would introduce an emergency law to grant an unprecedented blanket acquittal for hundreds of wrongly convicted employees of the state-owned Post Office in&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-the-uk-post-office-scandal-all-about-677930">Horizon IT scandal</a>.&nbsp;

<h2>‘One of the greatest miscarriages of justice’</h2>

Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses for alleged theft, fraud and false accounting based on the information from a recently installed IT system.&nbsp;

The decades-long scandal involves thousands of branch owner-operators and hundreds of wrongful convictions. According to the BBC, there are more than 900 convictions linked to the scandal over 16 years.&nbsp;

In a statement, Sunak, describing the scandal as “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history” said that his government will introduce new legislation to make sure that the victims of the scandal are “swiftly exonerated and compensated”.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-government-mulls-clearing-names-of-post-office-scandal-convicts-677851">UK government mulls clearing names of Post Office scandal convicts</a>

He added, “People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation.”&nbsp;

British media reports citing government officials said that the bill would be introduced “within weeks” as they have sought to grant the acquittals this year.

<h2>How will it help the victims of the scandal?</h2>

Speaking in the House of Commons after the UK PM, Kevin Hollinrake, member of Parliament and Post Office minister said hundreds fell victim to a “brutal and arbitrary exercise of power” by the state-owned entity.&nbsp;

Hollinrake told the Commons that amid the ongoing public inquiry about the scandal, they have found evidence that suggests that the Post Office acted with “incompetence and malevolence”.&nbsp;

He also noted that the bill that the government has sought to introduce could lead to some people fraudulently claiming compensation, but it will be a price worth paying.&nbsp;

“The risk is that instead of unjust convictions, we should end up with unjust acquittals,” said the Post Office minister. He added, “These are exceptional circumstances, and we need to act quickly and decisively. Time is one thing that we and the convicted postmasters do not have.”

The opposition Labour Party has welcomed the decision indicating that the bill introduced would swiftly pass through the parliament.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-committing-more-than-half-of-child-sexual-abuse-crimes-says-new-data-678653">UK: Children committing more than half of child sexual abuse crimes, says new data</a>

Hollinrake said those applying for compensation after they have been acquitted would have to sign a statement saying they did not commit the crimes of which they were accused.&nbsp;

He also acknowledged that it is not a “foolproof device” but called it “proportionate” and respectful of those who would have suffered the ordeal.&nbsp;

The bill will be introduced in response to the alarmingly slow pace at which the wrongly convicted Post Office staff is being exonerated and involve the parliament overturning the verdicts of multiple courts.&nbsp;

The bill would be introduced despite many raising concerns about the parliament interfering with the courts’ decision and setting a concerning precedent.&nbsp;

While the full details of the proposed law are yet to be known, Downing Street said it would amount to a blanket overturning of convictions tied to the scandal.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that his government would introduce an emergency law to grant an unprecedented blanket acquittal for hundreds of wrongly convicted employees of the state-owned Post Office in the Horizon IT scandal.

United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Wednesday (Jan 10) said that his government would introduce an emergency law to grant an unprecedented blanket acquittal for hundreds of wrongly convicted employees of the state-owned Post Office in the Horizon IT scandal. ‘One of the greatest miscarriages of justice’ Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses for alleged theft, fraud and false accounting based on the information from a recently installed IT system. The decades-long scandal involves thousands of branch owner-operators and hundreds of wrongful convictions. According to the BBC, there are more than 900 convictions linked to the scandal over 16 years. In a statement, Sunak, describing the scandal as “one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in our nation’s history” said that his government will introduce new legislation to make sure that the victims of the scandal are “swiftly exonerated and compensated”. ALSO WATCH | UK government mulls clearing names of Post Office scandal convicts He added, “People who worked hard to serve their communities had their lives and their reputations destroyed through absolutely no fault of their own. The victims must get justice and compensation.” British media reports citing government officials said that the bill would be introduced “within weeks” as they have sought to grant the acquittals this year. How will it help the victims of the scandal? Speaking in the House of Commons after the UK PM, Kevin Hollinrake, member of Parliament and Post Office minister said hundreds fell victim to a “brutal and arbitrary exercise of power” by the state-owned entity. Hollinrake told the Commons that amid the ongoing public inquiry about the scandal, they have found evidence that suggests that the Post Office acted with “incompetence and malevolence”. He also noted that the bill that the government has sought to introduce could lead to some people fraudulently claiming compensation, but it will be a price worth paying. “The risk is that instead of unjust convictions, we should end up with unjust acquittals,” said the Post Office minister. He added, “These are exceptional circumstances, and we need to act quickly and decisively. Time is one thing that we and the convicted postmasters do not have.” The opposition Labour Party has welcomed the decision indicating that the bill introduced would swiftly pass through the parliament. ALSO READ | UK: Children committing more than half of child sexual abuse crimes, says new data Hollinrake said those applying for compensation after they have been acquitted would have to sign a statement saying they did not commit the crimes of which they were accused. He also acknowledged that it is not a “foolproof device” but called it “proportionate” and respectful of those who would have suffered the ordeal. The bill will be introduced in response to the alarmingly slow pace at which the wrongly convicted Post Office staff is being exonerated and involve the parliament overturning the verdicts of multiple courts. The bill would be introduced despite many raising concerns about the parliament interfering with the courts’ decision and setting a concerning precedent. While the full details of the proposed law are yet to be known, Downing Street said it would amount to a blanket overturning of convictions tied to the scandal. (With inputs from agencies)

UK Post Office scandal: PM Sunak announces new emergency law to overturn convictions

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The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Sunday (Jan 7) said that his government is considering a move which would exonerate hundreds of employees of the state-owned Post Office who were wrongfully convicted in the Horizon scandal.&nbsp;

The UK PM&nbsp;would back a probe into whether to revoke&nbsp;former Post Office boss Paula Vennells’ CBE in the wake of the Horizon scandal, said his spokesperson.&nbsp;

The decades-long scandal, often described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history, involving thousands of branch owner-operators and hundreds of wrongful convictions is making the headlines once again.&nbsp;

This time after an ITV drama which has reportedly led to 50 more potential victims coming forward. Here’s what you need to know.&nbsp;

<h2>Horizon IT scandal</h2>

Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses based on the information from a recently installed IT system for alleged theft, fraud and false accounting.&nbsp;

The UK Post Office, in the late 1990s, installed the Horizon IT system.&nbsp;Developed by a Japanese company named&nbsp;Fujitsu, the software was used for tasks such as transactions, accounting and stocktaking.&nbsp;

ALSO WATCH |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/uk-pm-sunak-calls-post-office-scandal-appalling-miscarriage-of-justice-677795">UK: PM Sunak calls 'Post Office' scandal 'appalling miscarriage of justice'</a>

Around 3,500 branch owner-operators were wrongly accused of stealing money from their businesses and 736 of them were given criminal convictions based on faulty accounting software.&nbsp;

As a result, hundreds of sub-post office operators who maintained their innocence all these years and said that they had complained about bugs in the system after it reported shortfalls amounting to thousands of pounds, ended up with a criminal record.

The UK Post Office employees also claimed that their concerns were often dismissed by their employers who said that the issues were the fault of the individual branch managers and not the system.

Even those who did not end up going to court had to gather money to cover nonexistent shortfalls. Notably, this was happening even before the convictions.&nbsp;

It was reported that some sub-postmasters would try to bridge the gap with their own money since their contracts stated they were responsible for any shortfalls, going as far as to remortgage their homes to correct the error, without any success.&nbsp;

<h2>The impact</h2>

The criminal convictions led to punishments ranging from community service to wearing electronic tags to being jailed. While others were left struggling financially or even went bankrupt and some were reportedly shunned by their communities.&nbsp;

The victims and their families over the years witnessed severe stress, including many illnesses, addiction and even premature deaths. The scandal is also linked to at least four suicides.&nbsp;

It was not until two decades later that the campaigners managed to get their cases reconsidered based on the claims that the computer system was flawed.&nbsp;

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However, these convictions had done lasting damage. Recently, the courts heard how over the years the scandal has led the victims’ marriages to break down, while some families believe the stress led to long-term health conditions.

Notably, the UK Post Office&nbsp;has the power to investigate and prosecute without the need for police involvement.&nbsp;

<h2>What proved the victims’ innocence?</h2>

The turning point in the decades-long case can be traced back to December 2019, towards the end of a series of civil cases where a group of post office operators won a High Court case in which their convictions were found to be wrongful and Horizon IT system was ruled to be at fault.&nbsp;

The ruling came three years after sub-postmasters initiated civil proceedings against the Post Office which over time saw the participation of more than 500 employees.&nbsp;

The judge said that the IT system had “bugs, errors and defects” and was not “remotely robust” in the first 10 years after it was installed. The Post Office agreed to settle with 555 claimants after accepting it made mistakes while dealing with a number of postmasters.&nbsp;

The Post Office agreed to pay 58 million pounds ($73.8 million) in damages, while the claimants received a share of 12 million pounds ($15.3 million) after their legal fees were paid.&nbsp;

In 2021, the ruling was upheld on appeal and led to the quashing of convictions of some workers who were wrongly accused and paved the way for compensation.

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The High Court ruling also led to more cases being brought forward to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates suspected miscarriages of justice.

<h2>Criminal convictions and compensation</h2>

As of last month, 142 appeal case reviews have been completed out of 900 people convicted during the scandal, reported The Guardian. To date, 93 convictions have been overturned while &nbsp;54 upheld, withdrawn or refused permission to appeal, said the Post Office.&nbsp;

So far, a total of 24 million pounds ($30.5 million) have been given in relation to overturned convictions. However, the Post Office has recently come under fire for delaying payments and blunders, including victims being taxed on the compensation received.&nbsp;

Several victims have reportedly died before they could receive their compensation due to the delays by the Post Office. Notably, the overturned convictions process is one of three different compensation schemes which has been established concerning the scandal.&nbsp;

As the British government has previously said every branch owner-operator who has had wrongful convictions for theft and false accounting overturned is to be offered 600,000 pounds ($764,010) each in compensation.&nbsp;

More than 130 million pounds ($165.6 million) have been paid out to about 2,500 Post Office workers across the three schemes, reported The Guardian.&nbsp;

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So far, neither the Post Office nor Fujitsu has been held accountable, however, the High Court judge had said that the Japanese company would be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for possible further action.

<h2>Why is the scandal making headlines now?</h2>

It is worth noting that it was after a TV series titled Mr Bates vs the Post Office aired on British television last week that the scandal was once again brought to the forefront of the public’s mind. The show and the attention it garnered have also reportedly led to new potential victims coming forward.&nbsp;

The story follows a former sub-postmaster named Alan Bates played by Toby Jones, who led the campaign for justice at the High Court. Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read said that he hoped the TV show “encourages anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.”

<h2>‘Appalling’</h2>

In an interview, on Sunday, UK PM said that his government was considering a move to exonerate hundreds of employees who have been wrongfully convicted.&nbsp;

Sunak was asked if Justice Minister Alex Chalk was exploring ways to exonerate them or remove the Post Office’s ability to investigate and prosecute, the UK PM responded by saying that the case was “an appalling miscarriage of justice”.&nbsp;

“The Justice Secretary is looking at the things that you described,” he told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.&nbsp;

“It’s right that we find every which way we can do to try and make this right for the people who were so wrongfully treated at the time.” Sunak said, adding there was some “legal complexity in all of those things.”&nbsp;

The UK PM&nbsp;would “strongly support”&nbsp;the forfeiture committee “if they were to choose to investigate” and revoke Vennells’ CBE in the wake of the&nbsp;Horizon scandal.&nbsp;

"The prime minister shares the public's feeling of outrage on this issue. He would strongly support the Forfeiture Committee if it chose to review the case," said Sunak's spokesperson, adding that the decision is "for the committee, rather than the government".&nbsp;

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire&nbsp;or&nbsp;CBE is among the highest ranking Order of the British Empire level award&nbsp;and is bestowed upon an&nbsp;individual for&nbsp;having a prominent role at the national level, or a leading role at the regional level in the UK.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;petition&nbsp;addressed to Sir Chris Wormald, the chair of the forfeiture committee calling for revoking&nbsp;Vennells'&nbsp;CBE over the scandal has garnered more than one million&nbsp;signatures.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Sunday (Jan 7) said that his government is considering a move which would exonerate hundreds of employees of the state-owned Post Office who were wrongfully convicted in the Horizon scandal.

The United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, on Sunday (Jan 7) said that his government is considering a move which would exonerate hundreds of employees of the state-owned Post Office who were wrongfully convicted in the Horizon scandal. The UK PM would back a probe into whether to revoke former Post Office boss Paula Vennells’ CBE in the wake of the Horizon scandal, said his spokesperson. The decades-long scandal, often described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history, involving thousands of branch owner-operators and hundreds of wrongful convictions is making the headlines once again. This time after an ITV drama which has reportedly led to 50 more potential victims coming forward. Here’s what you need to know. Horizon IT scandal Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted hundreds of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses based on the information from a recently installed IT system for alleged theft, fraud and false accounting. The UK Post Office, in the late 1990s, installed the Horizon IT system. Developed by a Japanese company named Fujitsu, the software was used for tasks such as transactions, accounting and stocktaking. ALSO WATCH | UK: PM Sunak calls 'Post Office' scandal 'appalling miscarriage of justice' Around 3,500 branch owner-operators were wrongly accused of stealing money from their businesses and 736 of them were given criminal convictions based on faulty accounting software. As a result, hundreds of sub-post office operators who maintained their innocence all these years and said that they had complained about bugs in the system after it reported shortfalls amounting to thousands of pounds, ended up with a criminal record. The UK Post Office employees also claimed that their concerns were often dismissed by their employers who said that the issues were the fault of the individual branch managers and not the system. Even those who did not end up going to court had to gather money to cover nonexistent shortfalls. Notably, this was happening even before the convictions. It was reported that some sub-postmasters would try to bridge the gap with their own money since their contracts stated they were responsible for any shortfalls, going as far as to remortgage their homes to correct the error, without any success. The impact The criminal convictions led to punishments ranging from community service to wearing electronic tags to being jailed. While others were left struggling financially or even went bankrupt and some were reportedly shunned by their communities. The victims and their families over the years witnessed severe stress, including many illnesses, addiction and even premature deaths. The scandal is also linked to at least four suicides. It was not until two decades later that the campaigners managed to get their cases reconsidered based on the claims that the computer system was flawed. ALSO READ | Russian billionaire accuses Sotheby’s of art fraud collusion in high-stakes legal battle However, these convictions had done lasting damage. Recently, the courts heard how over the years the scandal has led the victims’ marriages to break down, while some families believe the stress led to long-term health conditions. Notably, the UK Post Office has the power to investigate and prosecute without the need for police involvement. What proved the victims’ innocence? The turning point in the decades-long case can be traced back to December 2019, towards the end of a series of civil cases where a group of post office operators won a High Court case in which their convictions were found to be wrongful and Horizon IT system was ruled to be at fault. The ruling came three years after sub-postmasters initiated civil proceedings against the Post Office which over time saw the participation of more than 500 employees. The judge said that the IT system had “bugs, errors and defects” and was not “remotely robust” in the first 10 years after it was installed. The Post Office agreed to settle with 555 claimants after accepting it made mistakes while dealing with a number of postmasters. The Post Office agreed to pay 58 million pounds ($73.8 million) in damages, while the claimants received a share of 12 million pounds ($15.3 million) after their legal fees were paid. In 2021, the ruling was upheld on appeal and led to the quashing of convictions of some workers who were wrongly accused and paved the way for compensation. ALSO READ | Pope calls for universal ban on 'despicable' practice of surrogate motherhood The High Court ruling also led to more cases being brought forward to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent body which investigates suspected miscarriages of justice. Criminal convictions and compensation As of last month, 142 appeal case reviews have been completed out of 900 people convicted during the scandal, reported The Guardian. To date, 93 convictions have been overturned while 54 upheld, withdrawn or refused permission to appeal, said the Post Office. So far, a total of 24 million pounds ($30.5 million) have been given in relation to overturned convictions. However, the Post Office has recently come under fire for delaying payments and blunders, including victims being taxed on the compensation received. Several victims have reportedly died before they could receive their compensation due to the delays by the Post Office. Notably, the overturned convictions process is one of three different compensation schemes which has been established concerning the scandal. As the British government has previously said every branch owner-operator who has had wrongful convictions for theft and false accounting overturned is to be offered 600,000 pounds ($764,010) each in compensation. More than 130 million pounds ($165.6 million) have been paid out to about 2,500 Post Office workers across the three schemes, reported The Guardian. ALSO READ | Taiwan spots more Chinese balloons over strait, accuses Beijing of 'psychological warfare' ahead of elections So far, neither the Post Office nor Fujitsu has been held accountable, however, the High Court judge had said that the Japanese company would be referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for possible further action. Why is the scandal making headlines now? It is worth noting that it was after a TV series titled Mr Bates vs the Post Office aired on British television last week that the scandal was once again brought to the forefront of the public’s mind. The show and the attention it garnered have also reportedly led to new potential victims coming forward. The story follows a former sub-postmaster named Alan Bates played by Toby Jones, who led the campaign for justice at the High Court. Post Office Chief Executive Nick Read said that he hoped the TV show “encourages anyone affected who has not yet come forward to seek the redress and compensation they deserve.” ‘Appalling’ In an interview, on Sunday, UK PM said that his government was considering a move to exonerate hundreds of employees who have been wrongfully convicted. Sunak was asked if Justice Minister Alex Chalk was exploring ways to exonerate them or remove the Post Office’s ability to investigate and prosecute, the UK PM responded by saying that the case was “an appalling miscarriage of justice”. “The Justice Secretary is looking at the things that you described,” he told BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme. “It’s right that we find every which way we can do to try and make this right for the people who were so wrongfully treated at the time.” Sunak said, adding there was some “legal complexity in all of those things.” The UK PM would “strongly support” the forfeiture committee “if they were to choose to investigate” and revoke Vennells’ CBE in the wake of the Horizon scandal. "The prime minister shares the public's feeling of outrage on this issue. He would strongly support the Forfeiture Committee if it chose to review the case," said Sunak's spokesperson, adding that the decision is "for the committee, rather than the government". Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire or CBE is among the highest ranking Order of the British Empire level award and is bestowed upon an individual for having a prominent role at the national level, or a leading role at the regional level in the UK. The petition addressed to Sir Chris Wormald, the chair of the forfeiture committee calling for revoking Vennells' CBE over the scandal has garnered more than one million signatures. (With inputs from agencies)

Explained | What is the Horizon IT scandal that might cost ex-UK post office chief her royal honour?

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In 2022 the then-UK prime minister Boris Johnson promised a trade deal with India since Johnson has left and 2 years have passed but the trade deal is nowhere to be seen. So we asked the UK's minister of state for South Asia about where the negotiations stand he confirmed to our senior correspondent Sidharth MP that the talks are progressing well and could be inked very soon.

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The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”.&nbsp;

<h2>Tale of the house-proud mouse</h2>

Retired postman and avid wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook set up a night-vision camera after his shed was being mysteriously cleaned night after night for months only to find an unexpected helper scurrying around his workbench.

Holbrook, who lives in Builth Wells, a small town in central Wales recorded a mouse he nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a box on his workbench.

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Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature continued and even carried cable ties to the box.&nbsp;

<h2>Tidying up just for 'fun'</h2>

While the mice tidying up someone else’s shed seems peculiar, many animals engage in what we may consider “cleaning” behaviour. For example, it is said that ants and bees remove corpses from their ant hills and hives.&nbsp;

However the case of “Welsh Tidy Mouse” is more complicated. It is known that mice frequently groom themselves and even create and keep a separate space as a toilet in their cages.&nbsp;

“I wouldn’t say that this mouse has looked at its environment and thought: ‘Hey, this is messy. I need to tidy it up,’” said University of Bristol’s Dr Megan Jackson, who studies foraging behaviour in laboratory mice, as quoted by The Guardian.&nbsp;

Jackson went on to say how the mice in her lab seem to enjoy foraging for foraging’s sake. “It is really intrinsic to a mouse to want to go out into the world, pick things up and drag them back to a place that they perceive to be a good place to store things.”

The scientist at the University of Bristol noted that whatever the Welsh Tidy Mouse’s motivation may be, the rodent did seem to find the task fun.&nbsp;

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“This isn’t a behaviour that’s necessary for survival, but they are still doing it night and after night, even though they have probably learned that (Holbrook) is putting the stuff back the very next day,” said Jackson, as per the British media report.&nbsp;

She added, “The fact this mouse is engaging in a pointless behaviour must mean that he finds it rewarding in some way.”&nbsp;

The researcher also noted that while as humans we get to enjoy different aspects of life it may&nbsp;not be the case for most animals so it's "quite nice to see a mouse engaging in behaviour that isn’t completely necessary."

Notably, this isn’t the first time that Holbrook has encountered a house-proud mouse, he told BBC. In 2019, he installed a night-vision camera for a friend which revealed another mouse keeping his friend’s shed organised.

(With inputs from agencies)

The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”.

The video of a mouse secretly cleaning up a British man’s shed has left people amused and curious. The footage of the rodent nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering up objects in a shed and placing them neatly inside a box every night, recently went viral sparking curiosity, and scientists may have an explanation for this so-called “mousekeeping”. Tale of the house-proud mouse Retired postman and avid wildlife photographer Rodney Holbrook set up a night-vision camera after his shed was being mysteriously cleaned night after night for months only to find an unexpected helper scurrying around his workbench. Holbrook, who lives in Builth Wells, a small town in central Wales recorded a mouse he nicknamed “Welsh Tidy Mouse” gathering clothes, nuts, bolts and other small items and placing them in a box on his workbench. ALSO READ | Real life elf? Astonishing video shows a mouse cleaning a man's shed every night Holbrook also tested the mouse by keeping out different objects to check if it could pick them. However, the creature continued and even carried cable ties to the box. Tidying up just for 'fun' While the mice tidying up someone else’s shed seems peculiar, many animals engage in what we may consider “cleaning” behaviour. For example, it is said that ants and bees remove corpses from their ant hills and hives. However the case of “Welsh Tidy Mouse” is more complicated. It is known that mice frequently groom themselves and even create and keep a separate space as a toilet in their cages. “I wouldn’t say that this mouse has looked at its environment and thought: ‘Hey, this is messy. I need to tidy it up,’” said University of Bristol’s Dr Megan Jackson, who studies foraging behaviour in laboratory mice, as quoted by The Guardian. Jackson went on to say how the mice in her lab seem to enjoy foraging for foraging’s sake. “It is really intrinsic to a mouse to want to go out into the world, pick things up and drag them back to a place that they perceive to be a good place to store things.” The scientist at the University of Bristol noted that whatever the Welsh Tidy Mouse’s motivation may be, the rodent did seem to find the task fun. ALSO READ | First polar bear death from bird flu raises concerns for extant species “This isn’t a behaviour that’s necessary for survival, but they are still doing it night and after night, even though they have probably learned that (Holbrook) is putting the stuff back the very next day,” said Jackson, as per the British media report. She added, “The fact this mouse is engaging in a pointless behaviour must mean that he finds it rewarding in some way.” The researcher also noted that while as humans we get to enjoy different aspects of life it may not be the case for most animals so it's "quite nice to see a mouse engaging in behaviour that isn’t completely necessary." Notably, this isn’t the first time that Holbrook has encountered a house-proud mouse, he told BBC. In 2019, he installed a night-vision camera for a friend which revealed another mouse keeping his friend’s shed organised. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Welsh Tidy Mouse’ might have been cleaning British man’s shed for ‘fun’, say scientists

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