A mother of two from England died after reaching Turkey for a vacation, and it was later revealed that her heart was missing. The hospital in Istanbul that treated her is being accused of removing her heart, although it denied that the woman underwent any kind of surgery on their premises.Beth Martin started feeling unwell on the flight to Istanbul and thought she had food poisoning.&nbsp;Hours after landing, it got worse, and she was hospitalised at the Marmara University Hospital in Istanbul. Beth passed away the next day. The hospital is now under scrutiny and is being investigated.&nbsp;Her husband, Luke Martin, claims the hospital did not help him with proper details of what led to his wife's sudden death. Meanwhile, Turkish officials suspect him of poisoning her before they took off from England.<h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>UK woman died of "cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure", the Turkish ministry said</h2>&nbsp;The Turkish Ministry of Health said Martin died from "cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure", without elaborating on what triggered her organs to shut down.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/buga-sphere-ufo-colombia-aliens-warning-message-1748317396999">Is Buga sphere a warning sign from aliens? Mystery grows around UFO</a>&nbsp;Luke claims he was initially denied access to see his wife’s body. However, he finally managed to arrange for her wife's body to return to Portsmouth. British coroners carried out an autopsy and were shocked to find that Beth's heart was missing. Her family suspects the hospital removed the organ while she was being treated.<h2>Was Beth poisoned?</h2>&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Turkish hospital has refuted all allegations, asserting she "did not undergo any surgical procedures" at the hospital. The Marmara University Hospital, said in a statement, that Luke told them he suspected that someone had poisoned them before they left England. So the matter was classified as a “forensic case”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/california-big-one-earthquake-prediction-year-1748340197093">Scientists now know the EXACT year Big One, a devastating earthquake, will hit California. It can happen as soon as...</a>&nbsp;The hospital said that it carried our a "preliminary autopsy [without incision] in accordance with the forensic case procedure”.&nbsp;Turkish authorities have launched a formal investigation into Beth Martin’s death. Meanwhile, her family has been left devastated and is searching for answers.&nbsp;The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise 250,000 pounds. Luke says on the page that the armed cops interrogated him in the hospital parking lot, and he was "grilled, accused and broken beyond repair."&nbsp;Coroners in England are also trying to figure out what caused the multiple organ failure. The final reports are expected to take at least six months.&nbsp;

A British woman mysteriously died after landing in Istanbul. The hospital thinks her husband poisoned her. Her husband claims the Turkish hospital removed her heart. 

A mother of two from England died after reaching Turkey for a vacation, and it was later revealed that her heart was missing. The hospital in Istanbul that treated her is being accused of removing her heart, although it denied that the woman underwent any kind of surgery on their premises. Beth Martin started feeling unwell on the flight to Istanbul and thought she had food poisoning. Hours after landing, it got worse, and she was hospitalised at the Marmara University Hospital in Istanbul. Beth passed away the next day. The hospital is now under scrutiny and is being investigated. Her husband, Luke Martin, claims the hospital did not help him with proper details of what led to his wife's sudden death. Meanwhile, Turkish officials suspect him of poisoning her before they took off from England. UK woman died of "cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure", the Turkish ministry said The Turkish Ministry of Health said Martin died from "cardiac arrest due to multiple organ failure", without elaborating on what triggered her organs to shut down. Also Read: Is Buga sphere a warning sign from aliens? Mystery grows around UFO Luke claims he was initially denied access to see his wife’s body. However, he finally managed to arrange for her wife's body to return to Portsmouth. British coroners carried out an autopsy and were shocked to find that Beth's heart was missing. Her family suspects the hospital removed the organ while she was being treated. Was Beth poisoned? Meanwhile, the Turkish hospital has refuted all allegations, asserting she "did not undergo any surgical procedures" at the hospital. The Marmara University Hospital, said in a statement, that Luke told them he suspected that someone had poisoned them before they left England. So the matter was classified as a “forensic case”. Also Read: Scientists now know the EXACT year Big One, a devastating earthquake, will hit California. It can happen as soon as... The hospital said that it carried our a "preliminary autopsy [without incision] in accordance with the forensic case procedure”. Turkish authorities have launched a formal investigation into Beth Martin’s death. Meanwhile, her family has been left devastated and is searching for answers. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise 250,000 pounds. Luke says on the page that the armed cops interrogated him in the hospital parking lot, and he was "grilled, accused and broken beyond repair." Coroners in England are also trying to figure out what caused the multiple organ failure. The final reports are expected to take at least six months.

A British woman mysteriously died after landing in Istanbul. The hospital thinks her husband poisoned her. Her husband claims the Turkish hospital removed her heart.&nbsp;

British woman died mysteriously after landing in Istanbul. Someone removed her heart

Pakistanis made up the largest group of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom over the past year, new figures from the Home Office have revealed. Between April 2024 and March 2025, a total of 11,048 Pakistanis applied for asylum, accounting for 10.1% of all applications.This is a significant rise from the previous year, when 7,003 Pakistani nationals applied, placing them third on the list at the time, with 7.5% of total claims.<h2>UK sees highest-ever annual asylum applications</h2>Overall, the UK received 109,343 asylum applications in the year to March 2025, the highest number recorded for any 12 months since current records began in 2001. That’s a 17% increase from the 93,150 applications recorded in the previous year.This also surpasses the earlier record of 108,138 asylum claims made in the year ending December 2024.<h2>Afghan and Syrian nationals follow closely behind</h2>Afghan nationals were the second largest group of asylum seekers this year, with 8,069 applications, making up 7.4% of the total. That’s a drop from the 9,738 Afghan claims (10.5%) recorded in 2023–24, when they topped the list.Syrian nationals also saw a notable increase in asylum requests, with 6,175 applications in 2024–25, up from 4,232 the year before. They now account for 5.6% of the total.<h2>Small boat arrivals contribute to rising numbers</h2>The figures also show that around 33% of asylum seekers in the past year arrived after crossing the English Channel in small boats, a continued concern for UK immigration authorities.Despite the surge in claims, the backlog of pending asylum cases has dropped to its lowest level in years.<h2>Backlog drops, but tens of thousands still waiting</h2>By the end of March 2025, 109,536 people were waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claim. That’s a 12% drop from 124,802 cases in December 2024, and the lowest figure since December 2021.The backlog had reached a peak of 175,457 cases in June 2023, the highest since current records began in 2010.Of those still waiting, 67,373 people had been in limbo for more than six months, though that’s down from 73,866 at the end of December and far below the 139,961 long-term cases seen in mid-2023.<h2>Deportations rise as UK boosts immigration enforcement</h2>Separate Home Office figures show a slight drop in enforced returns, with 2,312 removals recorded from January to March 2025, down from 2,365 in the previous quarter. However, both figures are higher than in any quarter since 2018.Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented on the growing enforcement efforts, saying, “We have substantially increased immigration enforcement, taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK."“The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security," she added.“As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned,” Yvette said.

Afghan nationals were the second largest group of asylum seekers this year, with 8,069 applications, making up 7.4% of the total. That’s a drop from the 9,738 Afghan claims (10.5%) recorded in 2023–24, when they topped the list.

Pakistanis made up the largest group of asylum seekers in the United Kingdom over the past year, new figures from the Home Office have revealed. Between April 2024 and March 2025, a total of 11,048 Pakistanis applied for asylum, accounting for 10.1% of all applications. This is a significant rise from the previous year, when 7,003 Pakistani nationals applied, placing them third on the list at the time, with 7.5% of total claims. UK sees highest-ever annual asylum applications Overall, the UK received 109,343 asylum applications in the year to March 2025, the highest number recorded for any 12 months since current records began in 2001. That’s a 17% increase from the 93,150 applications recorded in the previous year. This also surpasses the earlier record of 108,138 asylum claims made in the year ending December 2024. Afghan and Syrian nationals follow closely behind Afghan nationals were the second largest group of asylum seekers this year, with 8,069 applications, making up 7.4% of the total. That’s a drop from the 9,738 Afghan claims (10.5%) recorded in 2023–24, when they topped the list. Syrian nationals also saw a notable increase in asylum requests, with 6,175 applications in 2024–25, up from 4,232 the year before. They now account for 5.6% of the total. Small boat arrivals contribute to rising numbers The figures also show that around 33% of asylum seekers in the past year arrived after crossing the English Channel in small boats, a continued concern for UK immigration authorities. Despite the surge in claims, the backlog of pending asylum cases has dropped to its lowest level in years. Backlog drops, but tens of thousands still waiting By the end of March 2025, 109,536 people were waiting for an initial decision on their asylum claim. That’s a 12% drop from 124,802 cases in December 2024, and the lowest figure since December 2021. The backlog had reached a peak of 175,457 cases in June 2023, the highest since current records began in 2010. Of those still waiting, 67,373 people had been in limbo for more than six months, though that’s down from 73,866 at the end of December and far below the 139,961 long-term cases seen in mid-2023. Deportations rise as UK boosts immigration enforcement Separate Home Office figures show a slight drop in enforced returns, with 2,312 removals recorded from January to March 2025, down from 2,365 in the previous quarter. However, both figures are higher than in any quarter since 2018. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper commented on the growing enforcement efforts, saying, “We have substantially increased immigration enforcement, taking strong action to return more foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers who have no right to be in the UK." “The work of Immigration Enforcement teams to substantially increase illegal working raids, returns and deportations is an important part of strengthening our border security," she added. “As part of the Immigration White Paper reforms, we will strengthen the rules so that more foreign national offenders can be returned,” Yvette said.

Afghan nationals were the second largest group of asylum seekers this year, with 8,069 applications, making up 7.4% of the total. That’s a drop from the 9,738 Afghan claims (10.5%) recorded in 2023–24 when they topped the list.

Pakistanis now largest group of asylum seekers in UK with 11,000 applications; UK minister promises 'strong action'

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Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. Nicholas Prosper, a 19-year-old in the UK who killed his mother, brother and sister and went on to carry out a mass school shooting before being arrested, has been sentenced to jail for 49 years, without the possibility of parole.
Prosper had pleaded guilty in February to killing his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, sister Giselle Prosper, 13, and brother Kyle Prosper, 16, at the family's home in Luton, Bedfordshire, on September 13 last year.&nbsp;
Prosper, who also stabbed his brother over 100 times, was not given a life sentence due to his age at the time of the crime - he was 18 - and his guilty plea.
&ldquo;Your ambition was notoriety. You wanted to be known posthumously as the world&rsquo;s most famous school shooter of the 21st century,&rdquo; said Luton Crown Court Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb addressing Prosper, who had initially refused to attend the court to hear the verdict on Wednesday (Mar 19).
She noted how there were several &ldquo;recurrent themes&rdquo; in his case similar to other mass shootings, such as sexual interest in children, withdrawal into an online world, a lack of empathy and a &ldquo;uniform&rdquo; for the killings, which he planned to carry out on a Friday the 13th. The date choice was deliberate given the superstitions attached to it.
&nbsp;
<iframe width="600" height="auto" style="width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 4/3;" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" class="external-video publive-iframes-block" src="https://cdn.thepublive.com/wion/static/kaltura_player/wion_video_player_iframe.html?thumbnail=wion/media/post_attachments/screenshot/2003_ARJUN_MURDER_730AM/00000002.jpg&amp;videourl=https://vodakm.zeenews.com/vod/WION/2003_ARJUN_MURDER_730AM.mp4/index.m3u8&amp;duration=62&amp;tags=UK, Teen, World News, WION" title="UK teen gets 49 years for killing family &amp; planning massacre" id="PL_iframe_block-m8gy5dtg-0sgm22cj-8af6615p"></iframe>
<h2>Who is Nicholas Prosper, the 'quiet, geeky' teen killer?</h2>
Prosper wanted to become famous for shooting a classroom of children aged just four and five at his old primary school, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. His former teachers had recalled him to be a 'quiet, geeky boy'.
After killing his family members around 5 am on the fateful day, he left a novel How To Kill Your Family beside their bodies.&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Horrible, horrible, horribly horrific. Have little words to describe how a young man can have such a (psychopathic) mind set to want to do this to anyone let about his own family. Thankfully his plans to kill class full of children at a school was and will never be realised.⛓️
&mdash; ☝🏾𝕋ℍ𝕀𝕊👇🏾BLACK KiDS MATTER UK (@BLMKiDSUK) <a href="https://twitter.com/BLMKiDSUK/status/1902104528792776770?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Planned murder</h2>
Prosper killed his family after a long physical struggle with them.
His mother and siblings tried their best to fight for their lives, leading to neighbours calling the emergency number.
He was arrested with his pocket full of blood and the knife that he used to attack his brother.
Prosper had managed to hide a gun with 33 cartridges in a bush nearby, and was about to execute his second plan of massacring 30 children in St Joseph's Catholic Primary School when its gates opened.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/extreme-violence-on-social-media-fuelling-the-rise-of-0-to-100-killers-8767238">'Loners and...': '0 to 100 killers' watch extremely tortuous videos before plotting murders</a>
Later, he admitted to investigators that he had plotted to quietly kill his family while they were asleep, before carrying out his second plan of shooting 30 children in his former primary school.&nbsp;
About his family, he told the investigators that "he had a good life with them... but he just wanted to do this to be famous".
Before committing the triple murder, Prosper shared a video of himself discussing characters from Telltale's The Walking Dead series.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">
Nicholas Prosper reportedly uploaded this disturbing video must hours before allegedly committing a triple murder involving three of his family members. In the video, he bizarrely discusses characters from Telltale's The Walking Dead series. The bodies of Juliana Prosper, 48,&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/NoWRjTMBzk">pic.twitter.com/NoWRjTMBzk</a>
&mdash; Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) <a href="https://twitter.com/Morbidful/status/1836373900189446623?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2024</a></blockquote>

<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Prosper's guilty plea</h2>
On February 24, Prosper was found guilty of three counts of murder, the first one of buying a firearm without a certificate, the second of possessing a firearm with intent to harm life, and the third one of having an article with a blade.&nbsp;
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Prosecutor Timothy Cray KC, had earlier told the court: "The killing of his family was to be the first step in an even more shocking mass killing."
He further added, "That same Friday morning, he had planned to kill at least 30 of the youngest pupils and two of their teachers at St Joseph&rsquo;s Catholic Primary School in Luton. He had been preparing these killings for months. His planning was cold, deliberate, and without sympathy or emotion towards the actual victims or potential victims." (With inputs from agencies)

World: Trending: Discover the chilling story of Nicholas Prosper, a 19-year-old who brutally killed his family in Luton, aiming for popularity through a planned school massacre.

Disclaimer: Some readers may find the story disturbing. Discretion is advised. Nicholas Prosper, a 19-year-old in the UK who killed his mother, brother and sister and went on to carry out a mass school shooting before being arrested, has been sentenced to jail for 49 years, without the possibility of parole. Prosper had pleaded guilty in February to killing his mother Juliana Falcon, 48, sister Giselle Prosper, 13, and brother Kyle Prosper, 16, at the family's home in Luton, Bedfordshire, on September 13 last year. Prosper, who also stabbed his brother over 100 times, was not given a life sentence due to his age at the time of the crime - he was 18 - and his guilty plea. “Your ambition was notoriety. You wanted to be known posthumously as the world’s most famous school shooter of the 21st century,” said Luton Crown Court Justice Bobbie Cheema-Grubb addressing Prosper, who had initially refused to attend the court to hear the verdict on Wednesday (Mar 19). She noted how there were several “recurrent themes” in his case similar to other mass shootings, such as sexual interest in children, withdrawal into an online world, a lack of empathy and a “uniform” for the killings, which he planned to carry out on a Friday the 13th. The date choice was deliberate given the superstitions attached to it. Who is Nicholas Prosper, the 'quiet, geeky' teen killer? Prosper wanted to become famous for shooting a classroom of children aged just four and five at his old primary school, St Joseph's Catholic Primary School. His former teachers had recalled him to be a 'quiet, geeky boy'. After killing his family members around 5 am on the fateful day, he left a novel How To Kill Your Family beside their bodies. Horrible, horrible, horribly horrific. Have little words to describe how a young man can have such a (psychopathic) mind set to want to do this to anyone let about his own family. Thankfully his plans to kill class full of children at a school was and will never be realised.⛓️ — ☝🏾𝕋ℍ𝕀𝕊👇🏾BLACK KiDS MATTER UK (@BLMKiDSUK) March 18, 2025 Planned murder Prosper killed his family after a long physical struggle with them. His mother and siblings tried their best to fight for their lives, leading to neighbours calling the emergency number. He was arrested with his pocket full of blood and the knife that he used to attack his brother. Prosper had managed to hide a gun with 33 cartridges in a bush nearby, and was about to execute his second plan of massacring 30 children in St Joseph's Catholic Primary School when its gates opened. Also read | 'Loners and...': '0 to 100 killers' watch extremely tortuous videos before plotting murders Later, he admitted to investigators that he had plotted to quietly kill his family while they were asleep, before carrying out his second plan of shooting 30 children in his former primary school. About his family, he told the investigators that "he had a good life with them... but he just wanted to do this to be famous". Before committing the triple murder, Prosper shared a video of himself discussing characters from Telltale's The Walking Dead series. Nicholas Prosper reportedly uploaded this disturbing video must hours before allegedly committing a triple murder involving three of his family members. In the video, he bizarrely discusses characters from Telltale's The Walking Dead series. The bodies of Juliana Prosper, 48,… pic.twitter.com/NoWRjTMBzk — Morbid Knowledge (@Morbidful) September 18, 2024 Prosper's guilty plea On February 24, Prosper was found guilty of three counts of murder, the first one of buying a firearm without a certificate, the second of possessing a firearm with intent to harm life, and the third one of having an article with a blade. Also read | United Kingdom to soon get covered by toxic gas clouds again amid volcanic eruptions: Report Prosecutor Timothy Cray KC, had earlier told the court: "The killing of his family was to be the first step in an even more shocking mass killing." He further added, "That same Friday morning, he had planned to kill at least 30 of the youngest pupils and two of their teachers at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Luton. He had been preparing these killings for months. His planning was cold, deliberate, and without sympathy or emotion towards the actual victims or potential victims." (With inputs from agencies)

TRIGGER WARNING : Who is Nicholas Prosper, jailed for 49 years for killing mother, brother, sister?

Ahead of the Washington visit, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to increase the UK’s defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a long-term goal of reaching 3% in the next parliament. The UK currently spends 2.3% of GDP on defence, and this move marks the largest sustained military budget increase since the Cold War. Starmer outlined that the rise will be funded by reducing overseas development aid from 0.5 to 0.3 percent of GDP, a decision that signals a shift in government priorities toward military modernization and nato commitments.

UK defence spending to hit 2.5% of GDP by 2027

The prices of healthier foods are already higher and rising at a faster pace compared to unhealthy foods, a new study has found. Watch this report for more details!

Report: The cost of healthy eating in the UK has gone up

Donald Trump is threatening to reject Peter Mandelson's appointment as the UK's ambassador to the United States over his support for close ties with China. Watch this report for more details!

Peter Mandelson's future as UK ambassador uncertain: Report

Three members of a gang responsible for what is believed to be the largest drug smuggling operation ever detected in the UK were jailed on Friday. A judge at Manchester Crown Court in north-west England jailed Sohail Qureshi, 64, for 25 years after he was convicted of plotting to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis.

Three members of a gang responsible for what is believed to be the largest drug smuggling operation ever detected in the UK were jailed on Friday. A judge at Manchester Crown Court in north-west England jailed Sohail Qureshi, 64, for 25 years after he was convicted of plotting to import heroin, cocaine and cannabis. Khaleed Vazeer, 58, and Ghazanfar Mahmood, 53, received sentences of 20 years and three years and nine months respectively after being convicted of being part of an organised crime gang. "These criminals supplied unprecedented amounts of drugs right across the UK," said Richard Harrison, regional head of investigations at the National Crime Agency (NCA). Watch | South Korea Martial Law Row: Calls Grow For Yoon To Be Impeached After Martial Law Debacle "They don't care that they fuel horrendous problems such as children being sucked into dealing drugs... or innocent members of the public being hurt or even killed in the crossfire of turf wars," he added. The network smuggled several billion dollars worth of heroin, cocaine and cannabis for drug dealers across Britain from 2015 to 2018, according to the NCA. The operation was so extensive it required two criminal trials, with one lasting 23 months -- a record in England and Wales. The other trial lasted nine months. Reporting details about the case became possible after a judge at Manchester Crown Court in northern England lifted media restrictions earlier this month following verdicts in the second trial. It revealed the NCA and Dutch police began working on the case in 2018 after "the vast scale" of the gang's offending became clear, police said. The group is believed to have imported more than 50 tonnes of heroin, cocaine and cannabis in various separate smuggling operations. Also read | Ukraine jails woman who wrote pro-Moscow reports for Russian diplomat Jurors heard how the gang concealed drugs in consignments of strong-smelling foodstuffs such as onions, garlic and ginger. The ringleader, Paul Green, 59, was earlier this year jailed for 32 years. The gang used encrypted communications, faked documents, changed their names by official means and acquired live and defunct businesses to disguise their drug imports. The network smuggled drugs from Belgium and the Netherlands, renting warehouses across northern England to store them. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Three more jailed in UK's biggest drugs bust

Tens of thousands of homes across the UK were left without power on Saturday and two people were killed after Storm Darragh hit the country with strong winds and caused pre-Christmas travel disruption.

Darragh, the fourth named storm of the season, is also expected to bring heavy rain through the weekend, with the UK's Environment Agency issuing dozens of flood warnings.

Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News on Saturday the storm posed a "challenging situation".

Two men were killed as a result of trees falling on their cars in separate incidents in Lancashire, northwest England, and in the west Midlands.

In Wales, the Met Office estimated gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour), with a "major incident" declared in parts of Wales due to the extensive disruption.

The storm has had "very significant effects in many parts of Wales, including on transport, energy infrastructure and property", the Welsh devolved leader said in a statement, warning that the effects could be "felt for some days yet".

As of Saturday afternoon 177,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power, according to the Energy Networks Association.

Trains were disrupted or suspended on several routes including from Glasgow to Edinburgh in Scotland, and between Cambridge and Stansted Airport in eastern England. &nbsp;

Rail operator CrossCountry, which operates nationwide, put a "do not travel" notice in place for Saturday due to cancellations and severe delays.&nbsp;

Network Rail Wales suspended trains on the Welsh northern coast due to a "fallen tree blocking the line", and several bridges in southern England and Wales were closed for safety reasons.

In Northern Ireland, thousands were left without power, and several bus and train services were suspended or delayed.

Christmas markets and sporting events were postponed, including the Merseyside derby between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Everton.

In Ireland, which issued an "orange" wind warning, 175,000 homes were without electricity as of Saturday evening, according to ESB Networks, which said there was "widespread and extensive damage to electricity infrastructure".

Dublin Airport said "a number of flights scheduled for Saturday morning have been cancelled by airlines" due to the storm.

Darragh comes two weeks after Storm Bert battered much of Britain, causing "devastating" flooding in parts of Wales and knocking out power to thousands of homes in Ireland.

The UK's Met Office had issued a rare red alert for high winds overnight to Saturday morning (0300 to 1100 GMT) covering parts of Wales and southwest England.

A separate amber warning, which is less serious than the red alert but still flags a "potential risk to life and property", covering a larger stretch of the UK and Northern Ireland is in place until Saturday night.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of homes across the UK were left without power on Saturday and two people were killed after Storm Darragh hit the country with strong winds and caused pre-Christmas travel disruption.

Tens of thousands of homes across the UK were left without power on Saturday and two people were killed after Storm Darragh hit the country with strong winds and caused pre-Christmas travel disruption. Darragh, the fourth named storm of the season, is also expected to bring heavy rain through the weekend, with the UK's Environment Agency issuing dozens of flood warnings. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News on Saturday the storm posed a "challenging situation". Two men were killed as a result of trees falling on their cars in separate incidents in Lancashire, northwest England, and in the west Midlands. In Wales, the Met Office estimated gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour (93 miles per hour), with a "major incident" declared in parts of Wales due to the extensive disruption. The storm has had "very significant effects in many parts of Wales, including on transport, energy infrastructure and property", the Welsh devolved leader said in a statement, warning that the effects could be "felt for some days yet". As of Saturday afternoon 177,000 homes in England, Scotland and Wales were without power, according to the Energy Networks Association. Trains were disrupted or suspended on several routes including from Glasgow to Edinburgh in Scotland, and between Cambridge and Stansted Airport in eastern England. Rail operator CrossCountry, which operates nationwide, put a "do not travel" notice in place for Saturday due to cancellations and severe delays. Network Rail Wales suspended trains on the Welsh northern coast due to a "fallen tree blocking the line", and several bridges in southern England and Wales were closed for safety reasons. In Northern Ireland, thousands were left without power, and several bus and train services were suspended or delayed. Christmas markets and sporting events were postponed, including the Merseyside derby between Premier League leaders Liverpool and Everton. In Ireland, which issued an "orange" wind warning, 175,000 homes were without electricity as of Saturday evening, according to ESB Networks, which said there was "widespread and extensive damage to electricity infrastructure". Dublin Airport said "a number of flights scheduled for Saturday morning have been cancelled by airlines" due to the storm. Darragh comes two weeks after Storm Bert battered much of Britain, causing "devastating" flooding in parts of Wales and knocking out power to thousands of homes in Ireland. The UK's Met Office had issued a rare red alert for high winds overnight to Saturday morning (0300 to 1100 GMT) covering parts of Wales and southwest England. A separate amber warning, which is less serious than the red alert but still flags a "potential risk to life and property", covering a larger stretch of the UK and Northern Ireland is in place until Saturday night. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Two killed, thousands of homes without power as Storm Darragh batters UK

Rising cases of flu and the vomiting bug norovirus are keeping the National Health Service (NHS) of England busier than usual this winter. The medical director of NHS, Prof Sir Stephen Powis, said that around 95 per cent of beds in the hospitals are already occupied and it's just the start of December.

Rising cases of flu and the vomiting bug norovirus are keeping the National Health Service (NHS) of England busier than usual this winter. The medical director of NHS, Prof Sir Stephen Powis, said that around 95 per cent of beds in the hospitals are already occupied and it's just the start of December. These kind of rates only were seen in the depths of winter. Sir Stephen, who is also the most senior doctor, said, “The NHS is busier than it has ever been before heading into winter, with flu and norovirus numbers in hospitals rising sharply - and we are still only at the start of December, so we expect pressure to increase and there is a long winter ahead of us" Also read | Colombian hitwoman 'The Doll', her accomplice 'Fat Hitwoman' arrested for several murders “For a while, there have been warnings of a ‘tripledemic’ of Covid, flu and RSV this winter, but with rising cases of norovirus, this could fast become a ‘quad-demic’," he further added. This comes after the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said hitting the 18-week target for non-urgent hospital care is one of his six long-term priorities for government. Starmer's statement has made senior doctors in the UK accuse the government of avoiding the immediate "crisis" facing the emergency system. Ambulances in the country are supposed to hand over patients to hospital staff within 15 minutes, but last week 67 per cent of arrivals took 44 minutes on average, according to BBC. Dr Tim Cooksley, of the Society for Acute Medicine, told BBC that patients in medical emergencies were facing "appalling conditions and prolonged waits". Also read | Chinese defence minister Dong Jun makes public appearance amid reports of graft probe "It's an ongoing crisis which remains far from being resolved effectively. The extra cases of winter viruses, such as Covid, flu and RSV, mean many hospitals will fall into critical incidents given the relentless challenges we have faced all year round," he told BBC. Cooksley further added, "Despite the positive rhetoric around tackling waiting lists, our concern is that the government continues to avoid acknowledging overtly that there will be no elective recovery without emergency care recovery. The two are dependent and need a coherent, coordinated approach". (With inputs from agencies)

UK NHS facing 'crisis' amid rising flu & Norovirus cases, 95% beds full

People in Britain were reported facing disruptions while travelling by rail on Friday (Dec. 6) after a fault faced by train drivers in a radio system they use.

In a statement, Network Rail said “There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning," Network Rail said in a statement.&nbsp;

The organisation further said that trains across the network will start their journey later than usual time because “of a nationwide fault with the onboard ‘GSMR radio system that allows communication between train drivers and signal operators".

A total of five routes were affected due to the disruption.&nbsp;

ScotRail, in a post on social media, assured passengers that the disruption does not affect the safety of trains.&nbsp;

“Due to a national fault with the radio system between drivers and signallers, services are subject to delays. Please note that this does not affect the safety of the train running as alternative methods are in place. Speak to staff or press help points for further information," it said in the statement.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;'Salt Typhoon' Hacking Group Behind Major Data MetaData Theft: US

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However, South Western Railway is among the operators that cancelled some services on Friday.&nbsp;

“We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning. This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey. This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey," it said.&nbsp;

People in Britain were reported facing disruptions while travelling by rail on Friday (Dec. 6) after a fault faced by train drivers in a radio system they use.

In a statement, Network Rail said “There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning," Network Rail said in a statement.&nbsp;

The organisation further said that trains across the network will start their journey later than usual time because “of a nationwide fault with the onboard ‘GSMR radio system that allows communication between train drivers and signal operators".

A total of five routes were affected due to the disruption.&nbsp;

ScotRail, in a post on social media, assured passengers that the disruption does not affect the safety of trains.&nbsp;

“Due to a national fault with the radio system between drivers and signallers, services are subject to delays. Please note that this does not affect the safety of the train running as alternative methods are in place. Speak to staff or press help points for further information," it said in the statement.&nbsp;

However, South Western Railway is among the operators that cancelled some services on Friday.&nbsp;

“We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning. This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey. This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey," it said.&nbsp;

National Rail said the disruption is expected to last until soon.&nbsp;

The BBC reports that it has been told that engineers believe the fault is at the national telecommunications hub in Doncaster.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

People in Britain were reported facing disruptions while travelling by rail on Friday (Dec. 6) after a fault faced by train drivers in a radio system they use. In a statement, Network Rail said “There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers.

People in Britain were reported facing disruptions while travelling by rail on Friday (Dec. 6) after a fault faced by train drivers in a radio system they use. In a statement, Network Rail said “There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning," Network Rail said in a statement. The organisation further said that trains across the network will start their journey later than usual time because “of a nationwide fault with the onboard ‘GSMR radio system that allows communication between train drivers and signal operators". A total of five routes were affected due to the disruption. ScotRail, in a post on social media, assured passengers that the disruption does not affect the safety of trains. “Due to a national fault with the radio system between drivers and signallers, services are subject to delays. Please note that this does not affect the safety of the train running as alternative methods are in place. Speak to staff or press help points for further information," it said in the statement. Watch | 'Salt Typhoon' Hacking Group Behind Major Data MetaData Theft: US × However, South Western Railway is among the operators that cancelled some services on Friday. “We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning. This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey. This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey," it said. People in Britain were reported facing disruptions while travelling by rail on Friday (Dec. 6) after a fault faced by train drivers in a radio system they use. In a statement, Network Rail said “There is a nationwide fault with the communication system used between train drivers and signallers. As a result, services across the National Rail network may be subject to disruption this morning," Network Rail said in a statement. The organisation further said that trains across the network will start their journey later than usual time because “of a nationwide fault with the onboard ‘GSMR radio system that allows communication between train drivers and signal operators". A total of five routes were affected due to the disruption. ScotRail, in a post on social media, assured passengers that the disruption does not affect the safety of trains. “Due to a national fault with the radio system between drivers and signallers, services are subject to delays. Please note that this does not affect the safety of the train running as alternative methods are in place. Speak to staff or press help points for further information," it said in the statement. However, South Western Railway is among the operators that cancelled some services on Friday. “We have been informed of a national issue with communication systems affecting service this morning. This means that trains may be delayed before they start their journey. This is because it is preventing our train drivers from contacting the respective signalling centre this morning and a reset is having to be performed before the train can start its journey," it said. National Rail said the disruption is expected to last until soon. The BBC reports that it has been told that engineers believe the fault is at the national telecommunications hub in Doncaster. (With inputs from agencies)

'Nationwide fault' at telecommunications hub disrupts trains across UK: National Rail

The United States (US) government has expressed "grave concern" after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday (Dec. 3). He further announced that he wants a resolution that follows the "rule of law," the Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, AFP reported.&nbsp;

Referring to the country by its official name, the Republic of Korea, Campbell said, "We are watching the recent developments in the ROK with&nbsp;grave&nbsp;concern," AFP reported.&nbsp;

He further added, "We have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and by the rule of law. I do want to underscore that our alliance with the ROK is ironclad, and we stand by&nbsp;Korea&nbsp;in their time of uncertainty," AFP quoted him saying.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/martial-law-in-south-korea-protests-launch-against-imposition-of-law-top-updates-781247">Martial law in South Korea: Will maintain law until lifted by president, says military</a>

Yoon has been a close ally of the US and also has strong ties with US President Joe Biden. Last year, he welcomed Biden on a state visit, and South Korea even hosted a global democracy summit, a signature idea of the outgoing US administration.

<h2>'Closely monitoring'</h2>

Furthermore, the government of the United Kingdom (UK) has also said it is "closely monitoring" the situation in South Korea.

 
"That is a very fast-moving situation, and, as you would expect, we are closely monitoring developments in South Korea," Prime Minister Keir Starmer's deputy spokesperson told reporters, AFP reported.&nbsp;

He further added, "We would advise all British nationals to monitor the UK's travel advice for updates and follow the advice of local authorities."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-hannah-kobayashi-case-voluntary-missing-hawaii-woman-781235">What is the case of Hannah Kobayashi, the 'voluntary missing' Hawaii woman?</a>

The country further warned British nationals to "follow the advice of local authorities and avoid political demonstrations". 
 
Yoon's Tuesday announcement was marked as South Korea's first declaration of martial law in more than 40 years. He defended his action, saying it was to protect the country from "threats" posed by North Korea.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

The United States (US) government has expressed "grave concern" after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday (Dec. 3). He further announced that he wants a resolution that follows the "rule of law," the Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, AFP reported.

The United States (US) government has expressed "grave concern" after South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on Tuesday (Dec. 3). He further announced that he wants a resolution that follows the "rule of law," the Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, AFP reported. Referring to the country by its official name, the Republic of Korea, Campbell said, "We are watching the recent developments in the ROK with grave concern," AFP reported. He further added, "We have every hope and expectation that any political disputes will be resolved peacefully and by the rule of law. I do want to underscore that our alliance with the ROK is ironclad, and we stand by Korea in their time of uncertainty," AFP quoted him saying. Also read | Martial law in South Korea: Will maintain law until lifted by president, says military Yoon has been a close ally of the US and also has strong ties with US President Joe Biden. Last year, he welcomed Biden on a state visit, and South Korea even hosted a global democracy summit, a signature idea of the outgoing US administration. 'Closely monitoring' Furthermore, the government of the United Kingdom (UK) has also said it is "closely monitoring" the situation in South Korea. "That is a very fast-moving situation, and, as you would expect, we are closely monitoring developments in South Korea," Prime Minister Keir Starmer's deputy spokesperson told reporters, AFP reported. He further added, "We would advise all British nationals to monitor the UK's travel advice for updates and follow the advice of local authorities." Also read | What is the case of Hannah Kobayashi, the 'voluntary missing' Hawaii woman? The country further warned British nationals to "follow the advice of local authorities and avoid political demonstrations". Yoon's Tuesday announcement was marked as South Korea's first declaration of martial law in more than 40 years. He defended his action, saying it was to protect the country from "threats" posed by North Korea. (With inputs from agencies)

US expresses 'grave concerns' over South Korea, UK says 'closely monitoring' situation

The emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in the UK on Monday (Dec. 2) for a two-day state visit hosted by King Charles III. The emir, 44, and his consort, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, arrived at Stansted Airport east of London.

The emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in the UK on Monday (Dec. 2) for a two-day state visit hosted by King Charles III. The emir, 44, and his consort, Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad Al Thani, arrived at Stansted Airport east of London. The state visit will begin Tuesday when the Qatari couple are greeted by the heir to the throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, at their residence at Kensington Palace in west London. The royal couple will then meet King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, at the Horse Guards Parade in central London where they will receive a ceremonial welcome. Also read | UK universities enrolling foreign students with poor English to get higher fees: Report The visit comes as the UK is seeking a trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), of which Qatar is a member. The UK's Labour government, elected in July, is hoping to conclude a free-trade deal with the GCC's six nations -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The government says a deal could boost the UK economy by around £1.6 billion ($2 billion) and open up lucrative markets to British firms. The visit will include a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening and talks with Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Downing Street on Wednesday. Catherine, 42, also known as Kate, is due to play a limited part in the visit following a tentative return to royal duties after her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Watch | SpaceX Weighs Tender Offer At Roughly $350 Billion Valuation × She will not, however, attend the state banquet, her Kensington Palace office said. The Qatari leader was educated in Britain where he attended leading private schools before graduating from the Sandhurst military academy. He and Sheikha Jawaher attended both Charles's coronation in May 2023 and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. Charles, as Prince of Wales, has visited Qatar eight times and last met the emir at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai last December. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Qatar emir pays state visit to UK, hosted by King Charles

Mauritius' newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said he has asked the United Kingdom (UK) to give an independent review on a deal over the future of the Chagos Islands.

Mauritius' newly elected Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said he has asked the United Kingdom (UK) to give an independent review on a deal over the future of the Chagos Islands. Under the agreement, the UK would relinquish sovereignty over the archipelago. However, the county will maintain a 99-year lease over Diego Garcia - largest island of the Chagos Archipelago. The place is home to a major military airbase of the US and the UK. A spokesperson for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer told BBC that the Mauritian PM "indicated he was open" to the historic deal. Ramgoolam was elected as the prime minister two weeks ago. Watch | Unoccupied Ukraine Should Be Taken Under NATO Umbrella: Zelensky × At the time when the deal was signed, Pravind Jugnauth was the PM of Mauritius. He, along with Starmer, had said at that time that it was a "seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law". But during his election campaign, Ramgoolam called the agreement a "sell-out" which was motivated by desperation ahead of the election. Arvin Boolell, the newly appointed minister of agro-industry and fisheries, slammed the previous government for granting such a long lease to the UK over Diego Garcia. He claimed that the duration of the lease was 200 years, but the publicised timeframe said it was 99 years for the initial period. It is not the newly elected government of Mauritius that has objections to the deal. US President-elect Donald Trump' 's pick for secretary of state, Marco Rubio, had said in October that the deal posed a "serious threat" to US national security by giving the islands to a country allied with China. But the British PM and his Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, have called the agreement 'a good deal'. "I'm very, very confident that this is a deal that the Mauritians will see, in a cross-party sense, as a good deal for them," Lammy said on November 28. The deal is still subject to the finalisation of a treaty. (With inputs from agencies)

Mauritius' new PM asks for review of Chagos Islands deal with UK

Iran&nbsp;said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against it adopted by the UN's atomic watchdog.

Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of&nbsp;Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom would take place on Friday, without specifying a venue.

"A range of regional and international issues and topics, including the issues of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the nuclear issue, will be discussed," the spokesman said in a foreign ministry statement.

Baghaei described the upcoming meeting as a continuation of talks held with the countries in September on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-decries-violent-arrests-and-inhumane-and-unprofessional-beating-of-iranian-students-in-russia-778684">Tehran decries 'violent arrests' and 'inhumane and unprofessional beating' of Iranian students in Russia</a>

On Thursday, the 35-nation board of governors of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution denouncing&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;for what it called a 'lack of co-operation'.

The move came as tensions ran high over&nbsp;Iran's atomic programme, which critics fear is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has repeatedly denied.

It also came after IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran, where he appeared to have made headway.

During the visit,&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity.

In response to the resolution,&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;announced it was launching a "series of new and advanced centrifuges".

Centrifuges enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at a very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235).

Watch:&nbsp;Iran-Israel War: Iran Activates 'Advanced' Centrifuges Following IAEA Censure

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"We will substantially increase the enrichment capacity with the utilisation of different types of advanced machines," Behrouz Kamalvandi,&nbsp;Iran's atomic energy organisation spokesman, told state TV.

The country, however, also said it planned to continue its "technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA".

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in power since July and a supporter of dialogue with Western countries, has said he wants to remove "doubts and ambiguities" about his country's nuclear programme.

In 2015,&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and world powers reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;to begin rolling back on its own commitments.

Tehran has since 2021 decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors.

At the same time, it has increased its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 per cent.

That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90 per cent-plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead, and substantially higher than the 3.67 per cent limit it agreed to in 2015.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Iran said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against it adopted by the UN's atomic watchdog.

Iran said on Sunday that it would hold nuclear talks in the coming days with the three European countries that initiated a censure resolution against it adopted by the UN's atomic watchdog. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the meeting of the deputy foreign ministers of Iran, France, Germany and the United Kingdom would take place on Friday, without specifying a venue. "A range of regional and international issues and topics, including the issues of Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the nuclear issue, will be discussed," the spokesman said in a foreign ministry statement. Baghaei described the upcoming meeting as a continuation of talks held with the countries in September on the sidelines of the annual session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Also Read: Tehran decries 'violent arrests' and 'inhumane and unprofessional beating' of Iranian students in Russia On Thursday, the 35-nation board of governors of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution denouncing Iran for what it called a 'lack of co-operation'. The move came as tensions ran high over Iran's atomic programme, which critics fear is aimed at developing a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has repeatedly denied. It also came after IAEA head Rafael Grossi returned from a trip to Tehran, where he appeared to have made headway. During the visit, Iran agreed to an IAEA demand to cap its sensitive stock of near weapons-grade uranium enriched up to 60 per cent purity. In response to the resolution, Iran announced it was launching a "series of new and advanced centrifuges". Centrifuges enrich uranium transformed into gas by rotating it at a very high speed, increasing the proportion of fissile isotope material (U-235). Watch: Iran-Israel War: Iran Activates 'Advanced' Centrifuges Following IAEA Censure "We will substantially increase the enrichment capacity with the utilisation of different types of advanced machines," Behrouz Kamalvandi, Iran's atomic energy organisation spokesman, told state TV. The country, however, also said it planned to continue its "technical and safeguards cooperation with the IAEA". Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in power since July and a supporter of dialogue with Western countries, has said he wants to remove "doubts and ambiguities" about his country's nuclear programme. In 2015, Iran and world powers reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program. But the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, which prompted Iran to begin rolling back on its own commitments. Tehran has since 2021 decreased its cooperation with the IAEA by deactivating surveillance devices monitoring the nuclear programme and barring UN inspectors. At the same time, it has increased its stockpiles of enriched uranium and the level of enrichment to 60 per cent. That level is close, according to the IAEA, to the 90 per cent-plus threshold required for a nuclear warhead, and substantially higher than the 3.67 per cent limit it agreed to in 2015. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Iran set to hold nuclear talks with France, Germany, UK

London's Brighouse has been transformed into a real-life "Winterfell" as part of a special event inspired by the hit series Game of Thrones. The area was adorned with medieval-themed decorations, including towering banners, snow effects, and themed activities, creating an immersive experience for fans of the show. The event has attracted many visitors eager to step into the iconic world of Westeros.

UK: London's Brighouse Turns Into 'Winterfell'

A self-confessed smuggler narrated how he made more than 1,000 Vietnamese people enter the United Kingdom illegally and called this business "lucrative", while speaking to BBC.

The smuggler, who called himself Thanh, spoke about the ways in which criminal enterprises took advantage of migrants who wanted to cross the channel.

He said that Vietnamese travel a lot for work and because of lax EU work visa regulations, they now have a clear route to bring people to the UK from the Asian country.

In his interview with the BBC, Thanh said that he had appealed for asylum in Britain after he entered the country by crossing the channel on a small boat and paying double the amount which is paid by other migrants.

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He said that he informed the UK authorities that he had been trafficked to increase the chances of asylum.

"That's the way it's done. [People lie] in order to continue the asylum process safely," he added.

<h2>Here's how smuggler made people enter UK illegally&nbsp;</h2>

Thanh said that when he was camping in a forest near Dunkirk, he first started to help people-smuggling gangs in exchange for £250 (approx. $324) for every successful trip.&nbsp;

He became famous among the gang of smugglers but he was caught and put behind bars in Europe.

After he was released, Thanh travelled to the UK and made efforts to leave behind the smuggling of people.

However, he said his reputation has forced him to make a living by forging documents for the new arrivals in the United Kingdom.

"People in Europe contacted me asking for help.&nbsp;I'd already helped about 1,000 people to get to the UK successfully, so I was well known for that success," Thanh said.

Watch:&nbsp;Migrants Held In Reception Centres In Albania Brought To Italy

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"I had a lot of clients. Depending on which embassy it was, we would provide forged bank statements or other documents. First, we would submit these online. If certain embassies needed to check with banks, then we'd put real cash into a bank account. We had arrangements with staff at certain banks," he added.&nbsp;

"The clients couldn't access the money themselves, but the bank staff would show the [falsified] details to embassy staff. We worked with lots of different types of Vietnamese banks," stated the smuggler.

Thanh said that he has now decided to speak about his criminal activities to make Vietnamese people understand that the journey to Europe is not worth it.

"I just want people in Vietnam to understand that it’s not worth borrowing lots of money to travel here. It’s not so easy for illegal arrivals to find work or make money. And when they do make money it’s less than in the past," he said.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

A self-confessed smuggler narrated how he made more than 1,000 Vietnamese people enter the United Kingdom illegally and called this business "lucrative", while speaking to BBC.

A self-confessed smuggler narrated how he made more than 1,000 Vietnamese people enter the United Kingdom illegally and called this business "lucrative", while speaking to BBC. The smuggler, who called himself Thanh, spoke about the ways in which criminal enterprises took advantage of migrants who wanted to cross the channel. He said that Vietnamese travel a lot for work and because of lax EU work visa regulations, they now have a clear route to bring people to the UK from the Asian country. In his interview with the BBC, Thanh said that he had appealed for asylum in Britain after he entered the country by crossing the channel on a small boat and paying double the amount which is paid by other migrants. Also Read: 10 Indians arrested every hour for trying to enter US illegally in last one year, reveals data He said that he informed the UK authorities that he had been trafficked to increase the chances of asylum. "That's the way it's done. [People lie] in order to continue the asylum process safely," he added. Here's how smuggler made people enter UK illegally Thanh said that when he was camping in a forest near Dunkirk, he first started to help people-smuggling gangs in exchange for £250 (approx. $324) for every successful trip. He became famous among the gang of smugglers but he was caught and put behind bars in Europe. After he was released, Thanh travelled to the UK and made efforts to leave behind the smuggling of people. However, he said his reputation has forced him to make a living by forging documents for the new arrivals in the United Kingdom. "People in Europe contacted me asking for help. I'd already helped about 1,000 people to get to the UK successfully, so I was well known for that success," Thanh said. Watch: Migrants Held In Reception Centres In Albania Brought To Italy "I had a lot of clients. Depending on which embassy it was, we would provide forged bank statements or other documents. First, we would submit these online. If certain embassies needed to check with banks, then we'd put real cash into a bank account. We had arrangements with staff at certain banks," he added. "The clients couldn't access the money themselves, but the bank staff would show the [falsified] details to embassy staff. We worked with lots of different types of Vietnamese banks," stated the smuggler. Thanh said that he has now decided to speak about his criminal activities to make Vietnamese people understand that the journey to Europe is not worth it. "I just want people in Vietnam to understand that it’s not worth borrowing lots of money to travel here. It’s not so easy for illegal arrivals to find work or make money. And when they do make money it’s less than in the past," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Smuggler confesses transporting 1,000 Vietnamese illegally into UK, forging visas

The airport in England's Birmingham returned to normal, on Wednesday (Oct 23) after flights were grounded and the site evacuated after police reported a suspicious vehicle.&nbsp;

The airport issued a statement, saying, "Following a police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our No 1 priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.”

West Midlands police said the airport was "partially evacuated" so a vehicle could be searched and assessed.&nbsp;

“Following a search by the explosive ordnance disposal team the vehicle was deemed to be safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious. The safety of all was our primary concern and there is no wider risk to the public,” the police&nbsp;said.

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“The airport has resumed normal business with minimal disruption. We would like to thank the public for their patience and support while we dealt with this incident," they added.&nbsp;

Earlier in the day, the airport stated that their operations were affected and advised passengers to stay away.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: UK To Pay $2.9 Billion Into G7 Loan For Ukraine

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The passengers said they were taken outside the airport building to the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

West Midlands Fire Service said their&nbsp;crews were on standby at the airport. Meanwhile, West Midlands ambulance service teams were also in attendance “as a precautionary measure as police deal with reports of a suspicious vehicle”.

Later, passengers were told they could return to the airport, advising them to check the latest flight information before travelling.

As the situation got normal, passengers said they were slowly allowed back into the airport building, however, further disruption was expected for several hours.

(With inputs from agencies)

The airport in England's Birmingham returned to normal, on Wednesday (Oct 23) after flights were grounded and the site evacuated after police reported a suspicious vehicle.

The airport in England's Birmingham returned to normal, on Wednesday (Oct 23) after flights were grounded and the site evacuated after police reported a suspicious vehicle. The airport issued a statement, saying, "Following a police investigation, operations are now returning to normal. Whilst we apologise for any inconvenience and disruption, the safety and security of everyone at the airport was our No 1 priority as we worked through this incident with police partners.” West Midlands police said the airport was "partially evacuated" so a vehicle could be searched and assessed. “Following a search by the explosive ordnance disposal team the vehicle was deemed to be safe. The vehicle is no longer being treated as suspicious. The safety of all was our primary concern and there is no wider risk to the public,” the police said. Also read: Six-year-old UK girl becomes youngest to climb highest mountain in North Africa “The airport has resumed normal business with minimal disruption. We would like to thank the public for their patience and support while we dealt with this incident," they added. Earlier in the day, the airport stated that their operations were affected and advised passengers to stay away. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: UK To Pay $2.9 Billion Into G7 Loan For Ukraine × The passengers said they were taken outside the airport building to the nearby National Exhibition Centre (NEC). West Midlands Fire Service said their crews were on standby at the airport. Meanwhile, West Midlands ambulance service teams were also in attendance “as a precautionary measure as police deal with reports of a suspicious vehicle”. Later, passengers were told they could return to the airport, advising them to check the latest flight information before travelling. As the situation got normal, passengers said they were slowly allowed back into the airport building, however, further disruption was expected for several hours. (With inputs from agencies)

Birmingham airport returns to normal after police evacuates citing suspicious vehicle at site

A diplomatic embarrassment grapples the United Kingdom as the Commonwealth heads of government plan to look at&nbsp;reparatory justice for transatlantic slave trade and demand slavery reparations of up to £18 trillion ($24 trillion) from the country.

Starmer's office said the issue is not a part of the summit of 56 Commonwealth countries being held in Samoa from October 21 to 26.

According to a BBC report, officials were negotiating an agreement to conduct further research and start a "meaningful conversation" about the issue that could make the UK pay billons of pounds in reparations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/macron-announces-100-million-euros-in-aid-to-lebanon-the-war-must-end-770360">Macron announces 100 million euros in aid to Lebanon: 'The war must end'</a>

Starmer has been reportedly warned it is 'only a matter of time' before Britain has to bow to pressure as nations push for a clear statement at the&nbsp;summit in Samoa.

<h2>How reparatory justice for slavery works?</h2>

Reparatory justice for slavery has many forms, such as financial reparations, debt relief, official apologies, educational programmes, building museums, etc.&nbsp;

The current text of the draft summit, as per the BBC, says, "Heads, noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice about the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement, agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity."

<h2>The 'extraordinary' summit&nbsp;</h2>

The biennial meeting, grouping mostly former British colonies, will attract around 3,000 delegates.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tropical-storm-trami-kills-26-in-philippines-forces-150000-to-evacuate-770359">Tropical storm Trami kills 26 in Philippines, forces 150,000 to evacuate</a>

The conference is the first hosted by a Pacific Island nation,&nbsp;and will be an "extraordinary" opportunity to showcase the region, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland told AFP.

Climate change and rising sea levels are expected to feature heavily on the agenda.

King Charles, who leads the Commonwealth, said in Canberra on Monday (Oct 21) that the bloc played a "significant role" on the world stage.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/roblox-accused-of-child-safety-concerns-to-enact-parental-controls-770351">Roblox, accused of child safety concerns, to enact parental controls</a>

"It has the diversity to understand the world's problems, and the sheer brain power and resolve to formulate practical solutions," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

A diplomatic embarrassment grapples the United Kingdom as the Commonwealth heads of government plan to look at reparatory justice for transatlantic slave trade and demand slavery reparations of up to £18 trillion ($24 trillion) from the country.

A diplomatic embarrassment grapples the United Kingdom as the Commonwealth heads of government plan to look at reparatory justice for transatlantic slave trade and demand slavery reparations of up to £18 trillion ($24 trillion) from the country. Starmer's office said the issue is not a part of the summit of 56 Commonwealth countries being held in Samoa from October 21 to 26. According to a BBC report, officials were negotiating an agreement to conduct further research and start a "meaningful conversation" about the issue that could make the UK pay billons of pounds in reparations. Also read | Macron announces 100 million euros in aid to Lebanon: 'The war must end' Starmer has been reportedly warned it is 'only a matter of time' before Britain has to bow to pressure as nations push for a clear statement at the summit in Samoa. How reparatory justice for slavery works? Reparatory justice for slavery has many forms, such as financial reparations, debt relief, official apologies, educational programmes, building museums, etc. The current text of the draft summit, as per the BBC, says, "Heads, noting calls for discussions on reparatory justice about the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans and chattel enslavement, agreed that the time has come for a meaningful, truthful and respectful conversation towards forging a common future based on equity." The 'extraordinary' summit The biennial meeting, grouping mostly former British colonies, will attract around 3,000 delegates. Also read | Tropical storm Trami kills 26 in Philippines, forces 150,000 to evacuate The conference is the first hosted by a Pacific Island nation, and will be an "extraordinary" opportunity to showcase the region, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland told AFP. Climate change and rising sea levels are expected to feature heavily on the agenda. King Charles, who leads the Commonwealth, said in Canberra on Monday (Oct 21) that the bloc played a "significant role" on the world stage. Also read | Roblox, accused of child safety concerns, to enact parental controls "It has the diversity to understand the world's problems, and the sheer brain power and resolve to formulate practical solutions," he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Commonwealth heads to defy UK on slavery reparations of $24 trillion

The United Kingdom has planned to use the weight-loss drugs to help unemployed people with obesity get back to work, British Health Minister Wes Streeting said on Tuesday. &nbsp;

London has been planning to test US firm Eli Lilly's Mounjaro jab amid the increasing popularity of the diabetes medication Ozempic and Wegovy from Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk to treat obesity.

Streeting said that obesity was causing people to take an extra four sick days and was placing a huge burden on the state-run health care system.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/obesity-epidemic-on-the-rise-more-than-1-million-afflicted-around-the-world-695365">Also read:&nbsp;Obesity 'epidemic' on the rise, more than 1 billion afflicted around the world: Study</a>

"The long-term benefits of these drugs could be monumental in our approach to tackling obesity," Streeting said, referring to new drugs for the treatment of obesity.

<h2>Weight loss jabs 'very important' for unemployed people: UK PM&nbsp;</h2>

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that proposals to give weight loss jabs to unemployed people could be "very important" for our economy and health.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;UK: Semaglutide, the weight-loss drug, to be given out for free to eligible patients

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He further acknowledged that more money was needed for the state-run health care system, also known as the NHS, adding that the government also needed to "think differently" to ease pressure on the health system.

UK PM told the BBC the jabs would be "very helpful" to people who want and need to lose weight.

"(The drug is) very important for our NHS, because, yes we need more money for the NHS, but we've also got to think differently," he added.&nbsp;

He suggested the medicines could be "life changing" for individuals.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The United Kingdom has planned to use the weight-loss drugs to help unemployed people with obesity get back to work, British Health Minister Wes Streeting said on Tuesday.

The United Kingdom has planned to use the weight-loss drugs to help unemployed people with obesity get back to work, British Health Minister Wes Streeting said on Tuesday. London has been planning to test US firm Eli Lilly's Mounjaro jab amid the increasing popularity of the diabetes medication Ozempic and Wegovy from Danish pharma giant Novo Nordisk to treat obesity. Streeting said that obesity was causing people to take an extra four sick days and was placing a huge burden on the state-run health care system. Also read: Obesity 'epidemic' on the rise, more than 1 billion afflicted around the world: Study "The long-term benefits of these drugs could be monumental in our approach to tackling obesity," Streeting said, referring to new drugs for the treatment of obesity. Weight loss jabs 'very important' for unemployed people: UK PM UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that proposals to give weight loss jabs to unemployed people could be "very important" for our economy and health. Watch | UK: Semaglutide, the weight-loss drug, to be given out for free to eligible patients × He further acknowledged that more money was needed for the state-run health care system, also known as the NHS, adding that the government also needed to "think differently" to ease pressure on the health system. UK PM told the BBC the jabs would be "very helpful" to people who want and need to lose weight. "(The drug is) very important for our NHS, because, yes we need more money for the NHS, but we've also got to think differently," he added. He suggested the medicines could be "life changing" for individuals. (With inputs from agencies)

Unemployed people in UK may get weight loss jabs to return to work

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks 100 days in office this weekend, already seeking to reboot his new Labour government after a stuttering return to power following 14 years in opposition.

Starmer's first weeks in office have been overshadowed by rows about gifts to ministers and a cut in welfare payments for millions of pensioners that have tanked his personal poll ratings.

He has also faced accusations of discouraging overseas investment by repeatedly blaming the former Conservative administration for bequeathing Labour a dire economic inheritance and warning that further pain lies ahead.

"It hasn't gone well," said Steven Fielding, a political scientist at the University of Nottingham and author of several books on the Labour Party.

"If this is a start of a march towards (Starmer's pledge of) national renewal, the first footsteps were very uncertain," he told AFP.

Observers note the early missteps were largely self-inflicted: failing to shut down the "freebies" row and misjudging anger over removing winter fuel payments for 10 million elderly people.

<h2>'Flat-footed'&nbsp;</h2>

While Starmer promised a "government of service", he was accused of hypocrisy for accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes and tickets when he was asking Britons to make sacrifices.

Even though the donations were within parliament's rules, Starmer announced he would return around £6,000 ($7,840) worth -- but only after the scandal had been allowed to grow for several weeks.

"He's clearly a very good administrator," Fielding said of Starmer, a human rights lawyer and chief state prosecutor before entering politics.

"(But) there have always been questions about his political antennae." Labour, he said, had been "flat-footed" in taking control of the news agenda.

Observers say the decision to delay the budget until the party's fourth month in office left a vacuum that newspapers&nbsp;<meta charset="utf-8" />–&nbsp;particularly right-wing, Tory-supporting ones&nbsp;<meta charset="utf-8" />–&nbsp;were only too happy to fill with negative stories.

Scheduling the budget for October 30 meant the winter fuel cut gained more attention because it was announced in isolation, while government departments are in limbo about what they can announce, experts say.

<h2>Change at the top</h2>

Labour grandee Harriet Harman has said early "clunkiness" was to be expected since Labour had not been in government since Gordon Brown was prime minister in 2010.

Starmer, known to be ruthless when things are not going well, has already attempted a reset by parting company with his chief of staff, civil service veteran Sue Gray, who oversaw Labour's landslide vote triumph.

Her departure last weekend and the appointment of Labour insider Morgan McSweeney is expected to add a sharper political edge to government messaging.

"They do need to tell a more uplifting story about what they are doing," said Patrick Diamond, a Downing Street policy adviser when Labour was last in Number 10.

The government can point to several positive policy announcements in its first months, including on green energy, homebuilding and workers' rights, he pointed out.

Labour has launched a publicly owned clean energy company, lifted a de facto ban on new onshore wind farms and pledged to cut planning regulations to help build 1.5 million new homes.

On Thursday, it unveiled employment legislation that includes a ban on zero-hour contracts, improvements to sick and maternity pay, and measures aimed at making it harder for employers to sack staff.

Unions welcomed the bill, which comes after Labour ended drawn-out strikes in the public and private sectors.

<h2>European 'reset'</h2>

Starmer has also been busy attending international summits and travelling to European capitals seeking to repair relations with allies that were damaged by Brexit.&nbsp;

His official spokesman insisted this week that Starmer was focused on "delivering the change that he was elected to deliver" and it was "up to the public to determine what is success".

So far it appears unimpressed: a poll last month found that Starmer's popularity had slumped 45 points since the election, making him more unpopular than defeated Tory opponent Rishi Sunak.

Diamond notes that Labour's flagship policies are mid- and long-term projects. With the next election likely five years away, and a historically low number of Tory lawmakers, time is on Labour's side.

Finance Minister Rachel Reeves's budget is seen as crucial to Starmer achieving his mission of firing Britain's sluggish economy, and ultimately fulfilling his promise of "a decade of national renewal".

"It's completely retrievable as long as they learn the lessons," said Fielding.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks 100 days in office this weekend, already seeking to reboot his new Labour government after a stuttering return to power following 14 years in opposition.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks 100 days in office this weekend, already seeking to reboot his new Labour government after a stuttering return to power following 14 years in opposition. Starmer's first weeks in office have been overshadowed by rows about gifts to ministers and a cut in welfare payments for millions of pensioners that have tanked his personal poll ratings. He has also faced accusations of discouraging overseas investment by repeatedly blaming the former Conservative administration for bequeathing Labour a dire economic inheritance and warning that further pain lies ahead. "It hasn't gone well," said Steven Fielding, a political scientist at the University of Nottingham and author of several books on the Labour Party. "If this is a start of a march towards (Starmer's pledge of) national renewal, the first footsteps were very uncertain," he told AFP. Observers note the early missteps were largely self-inflicted: failing to shut down the "freebies" row and misjudging anger over removing winter fuel payments for 10 million elderly people. 'Flat-footed' While Starmer promised a "government of service", he was accused of hypocrisy for accepting thousands of pounds worth of clothes and tickets when he was asking Britons to make sacrifices. Even though the donations were within parliament's rules, Starmer announced he would return around £6,000 ($7,840) worth -- but only after the scandal had been allowed to grow for several weeks. "He's clearly a very good administrator," Fielding said of Starmer, a human rights lawyer and chief state prosecutor before entering politics. "(But) there have always been questions about his political antennae." Labour, he said, had been "flat-footed" in taking control of the news agenda. Observers say the decision to delay the budget until the party's fourth month in office left a vacuum that newspapers – particularly right-wing, Tory-supporting ones – were only too happy to fill with negative stories. Scheduling the budget for October 30 meant the winter fuel cut gained more attention because it was announced in isolation, while government departments are in limbo about what they can announce, experts say. Change at the top Labour grandee Harriet Harman has said early "clunkiness" was to be expected since Labour had not been in government since Gordon Brown was prime minister in 2010. Starmer, known to be ruthless when things are not going well, has already attempted a reset by parting company with his chief of staff, civil service veteran Sue Gray, who oversaw Labour's landslide vote triumph. Her departure last weekend and the appointment of Labour insider Morgan McSweeney is expected to add a sharper political edge to government messaging. "They do need to tell a more uplifting story about what they are doing," said Patrick Diamond, a Downing Street policy adviser when Labour was last in Number 10. The government can point to several positive policy announcements in its first months, including on green energy, homebuilding and workers' rights, he pointed out. Labour has launched a publicly owned clean energy company, lifted a de facto ban on new onshore wind farms and pledged to cut planning regulations to help build 1.5 million new homes. On Thursday, it unveiled employment legislation that includes a ban on zero-hour contracts, improvements to sick and maternity pay, and measures aimed at making it harder for employers to sack staff. Unions welcomed the bill, which comes after Labour ended drawn-out strikes in the public and private sectors. European 'reset' Starmer has also been busy attending international summits and travelling to European capitals seeking to repair relations with allies that were damaged by Brexit. His official spokesman insisted this week that Starmer was focused on "delivering the change that he was elected to deliver" and it was "up to the public to determine what is success". So far it appears unimpressed: a poll last month found that Starmer's popularity had slumped 45 points since the election, making him more unpopular than defeated Tory opponent Rishi Sunak. Diamond notes that Labour's flagship policies are mid- and long-term projects. With the next election likely five years away, and a historically low number of Tory lawmakers, time is on Labour's side. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves's budget is seen as crucial to Starmer achieving his mission of firing Britain's sluggish economy, and ultimately fulfilling his promise of "a decade of national renewal". "It's completely retrievable as long as they learn the lessons," said Fielding. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

UK PM Keir Starmer's poll ratings drop as Labour government set to mark 100 days in office

The race for the next conservative party leader in the UK is down to two as Tory MPS eliminated James cleverly, in a result which left many conservatives shocked and the labor an liberal Democrats rivals delighted. Watch to know more details.

UK: Cleverly Suffers Shock Exit From Tory Party Leadership Race

Right-wing candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick won through Wednesday to the final round of the contest to become leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party -- seeking its sixth chief since the Brexit referendum of 2016.

The outspoken Badenoch received 42 votes from fellow Tory MPs while Jenrick picked up 41. Ex-foreign minister James Cleverly was surprisingly eliminated with 37 votes.

Conservative party members will now select the winner in a ballot that closes at the end of October, with the next leader announced on November 2.

The winner will have to reunite a fractious party, hurting from a brutal election defeat in July when it returned just 121 MPs -- the lowest number in its history. It also lost support to the hard-right Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ex-interior-minister-priti-patel-eliminated-from-uk-conservative-leadership-race-756081">Also read:&nbsp;Ex-interior minister Priti Patel eliminated from UK Conservative leadership race</a>

The Conservatives face a daunting rebuilding campaign to overturn Labour's 174-seat parliamentary majority at the next election, likely in five years.

But with British elections typically won from the centre, any lurch to the right could scupper that chance.

<h2>Badenoch&nbsp;</h2>

The British-Nigerian Badenoch is a right-wing firebrand, unafraid to speak her mind and not shy of picking a battle in the culture wars.

Badenoch, 44, has been an MP since 2017, representing an area in the southeastern English county of Essex.

Born in London to Nigerian parents, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos before returning to the UK aged 16.

She worked in IT and banking before launching into politics, rising to become a business minister in Rishi Sunak's government.

A self-described "sceptic" of net-zero carbon emissions, Badenoch is popular amongst Tory members who tend to be further right than many lawmakers.

She sparked a storm during the leadership contest when she suggested that statutory maternity pay on small businesses was "excessive".

Badenoch lashed out at the finance ministry, blaming it for a rise in immigration during the Conservatives' time in power from 2010.

She sparked a further furor when she joked that up to 10 per cent of Britain's half a million civil servants were so bad that they "should be in prison".

Badenoch, who says she grew up middle-class but "became working class... working in McDonald's", has promised to make Labour "wriggle" and "sweat" if elected leader.

"I will always fight against left-wing nonsense," she told the Conservatives' recent annual conference.

<h2>Jenrick&nbsp;</h2>

Jenrick, 42, was once considered so mild-mannered and middle-of-the-road that he was referred to in UK political circles as Robert "Generic".

In recent months the decade-long MP has been on a political journey rightwards, prompting some commentators to question his real views.

Jenrick resigned as immigration minister last December saying Sunak's plan to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda did not go far enough.

Watch |&nbsp;Who will replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader?

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He has called for Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), claiming it made it "impossible to secure" UK borders.

In July last year, media reported that Jenrick had told staff to paint over murals depicting cartoons at an asylum centre because they were too welcoming for children.

Jenrick has put some of his recent weight loss down to the drug Ozempic and told the Tory conference he gave one of his three daughters the middle name Thatcher after the Conservative icon Margaret Thatcher.

"The leadership contest has come down to a three-week fight between two Thatcherite culture warriors, both of whom are in denial about why the party lost the election," Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP.&nbsp;

"Badenoch is seen by right-wingers as the real deal, a politician who is genuinely obsessed with combatting what they see as 'wokery' in all its forms, said Bale, who wrote a book on the Tories since Brexit.

"Jenrick attracts more suspicion because he's shape-shifted from a standard issue, centre-right careerist into a hard-liner - so much so that he often appears, as was the case in his speech to the Tory conference in Birmingham, to be trying too hard."

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Right-wing candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick won through Wednesday to the final round of the contest to become leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party -- seeking its sixth chief since the Brexit referendum of 2016.

Right-wing candidates Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick won through Wednesday to the final round of the contest to become leader of Britain's opposition Conservative Party -- seeking its sixth chief since the Brexit referendum of 2016. The outspoken Badenoch received 42 votes from fellow Tory MPs while Jenrick picked up 41. Ex-foreign minister James Cleverly was surprisingly eliminated with 37 votes. Conservative party members will now select the winner in a ballot that closes at the end of October, with the next leader announced on November 2. The winner will have to reunite a fractious party, hurting from a brutal election defeat in July when it returned just 121 MPs -- the lowest number in its history. It also lost support to the hard-right Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. Also read: Ex-interior minister Priti Patel eliminated from UK Conservative leadership race The Conservatives face a daunting rebuilding campaign to overturn Labour's 174-seat parliamentary majority at the next election, likely in five years. But with British elections typically won from the centre, any lurch to the right could scupper that chance. Badenoch The British-Nigerian Badenoch is a right-wing firebrand, unafraid to speak her mind and not shy of picking a battle in the culture wars. Badenoch, 44, has been an MP since 2017, representing an area in the southeastern English county of Essex. Born in London to Nigerian parents, Badenoch spent much of her childhood in Lagos before returning to the UK aged 16. She worked in IT and banking before launching into politics, rising to become a business minister in Rishi Sunak's government. A self-described "sceptic" of net-zero carbon emissions, Badenoch is popular amongst Tory members who tend to be further right than many lawmakers. She sparked a storm during the leadership contest when she suggested that statutory maternity pay on small businesses was "excessive". Badenoch lashed out at the finance ministry, blaming it for a rise in immigration during the Conservatives' time in power from 2010. She sparked a further furor when she joked that up to 10 per cent of Britain's half a million civil servants were so bad that they "should be in prison". Badenoch, who says she grew up middle-class but "became working class... working in McDonald's", has promised to make Labour "wriggle" and "sweat" if elected leader. "I will always fight against left-wing nonsense," she told the Conservatives' recent annual conference. Jenrick Jenrick, 42, was once considered so mild-mannered and middle-of-the-road that he was referred to in UK political circles as Robert "Generic". In recent months the decade-long MP has been on a political journey rightwards, prompting some commentators to question his real views. Jenrick resigned as immigration minister last December saying Sunak's plan to send undocumented migrants to Rwanda did not go far enough. Watch | Who will replace Rishi Sunak as Tory leader? × He has called for Britain to withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), claiming it made it "impossible to secure" UK borders. In July last year, media reported that Jenrick had told staff to paint over murals depicting cartoons at an asylum centre because they were too welcoming for children. Jenrick has put some of his recent weight loss down to the drug Ozempic and told the Tory conference he gave one of his three daughters the middle name Thatcher after the Conservative icon Margaret Thatcher. "The leadership contest has come down to a three-week fight between two Thatcherite culture warriors, both of whom are in denial about why the party lost the election," Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, told AFP. "Badenoch is seen by right-wingers as the real deal, a politician who is genuinely obsessed with combatting what they see as 'wokery' in all its forms, said Bale, who wrote a book on the Tories since Brexit. "Jenrick attracts more suspicion because he's shape-shifted from a standard issue, centre-right careerist into a hard-liner - so much so that he often appears, as was the case in his speech to the Tory conference in Birmingham, to be trying too hard." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

James Cleverly eliminated, Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick to be part of UK's Tory leadership race

A delightful trail of Paddington Bear statues has appeared across various cities in the UK, celebrating the beloved children's character. The statues, each uniquely designed and decorated by local artists, form part of a public art project aimed at bringing communities together and encouraging exploration of different areas. Paddington, known for his marmalade sandwiches and heartwarming adventures, has captured the imagination of generations. The colorful statues are set to attract both families and fans of all ages as they embark on a fun-filled journey to discover Paddington across the country.

Trail Of Paddington Statues Pop Up Across UK

The government of the United Kingdom is likely to introduce a new 'game-changing' blood test which will be able to detect signs of the 12 most common&nbsp;cancers before patients develop any symptoms.

Health Secretary&nbsp;Wes Streeting, who is himself a cancer&nbsp;survivor, will introduce the government-funded 'universal' blood screening for treating the disease in five years.

<h2>All about the innovative blood test&nbsp;</h2>

The treatment is a type of PCR test which is used during the pandemic and it can increase survival chances and save many lives every year.

The development comes after a blood test was hailed by the doctors in June in which they can predict if there are chances of breast cancer relapsing before it appears on the scans.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-lifestyle-changes-that-may-help-in-lowering-the-chances-of-breast-cancer-764806">Lifestyle changes that may help in lowering the chances of breast cancer</a>

Speaking to The Mirror, Streeting said, "Just a couple of drops of blood could tell you if you had lung, breast or bladder cancer, helping end months-long waits for tests and scans. These innovations could be game changers."

This test will cost each patient £120 (approx. $157) and will check the 12 most common cancers which are lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, colorectal, ovarian, liver, brain, oesophageal, bladder, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and gastric.

The scheme has been provided £2.5 million ($3.28&nbsp;million) worth of funding by the UK government through the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Watch:&nbsp;Kate Middleton Hugs Young Girl Battling Rare Cancer

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A startup company Xgenera has been set up by the scientists to help the scheme in rolling out, which they claimed has "potential to save millions of lives".&nbsp;

Every year, more than 320,000 people are diagnosed with prostate, breast, bowel and lung cancers.

According to experts, nearly 40,000 cancers had gone undiagnosed in the first year of the pandemic.

As of now, screening programmes are among the most effective ways of detecting early-stage cancers.

(With inputs from agencies)

The government of the United Kingdom is likely to introduce a new 'game-changing' blood test which will be able to detect signs of the 12 most common cancers before patients develop any symptoms.

The government of the United Kingdom is likely to introduce a new 'game-changing' blood test which will be able to detect signs of the 12 most common cancers before patients develop any symptoms. Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who is himself a cancer survivor, will introduce the government-funded 'universal' blood screening for treating the disease in five years. All about the innovative blood test The treatment is a type of PCR test which is used during the pandemic and it can increase survival chances and save many lives every year. The development comes after a blood test was hailed by the doctors in June in which they can predict if there are chances of breast cancer relapsing before it appears on the scans. Also Read: Lifestyle changes that may help in lowering the chances of breast cancer Speaking to The Mirror, Streeting said, "Just a couple of drops of blood could tell you if you had lung, breast or bladder cancer, helping end months-long waits for tests and scans. These innovations could be game changers." This test will cost each patient £120 (approx. $157) and will check the 12 most common cancers which are lung, breast, prostate, pancreatic, colorectal, ovarian, liver, brain, oesophageal, bladder, bone and soft tissue sarcoma, and gastric. The scheme has been provided £2.5 million ($3.28 million) worth of funding by the UK government through the National Institute for Health and Care Research. Watch: Kate Middleton Hugs Young Girl Battling Rare Cancer A startup company Xgenera has been set up by the scientists to help the scheme in rolling out, which they claimed has "potential to save millions of lives". Every year, more than 320,000 people are diagnosed with prostate, breast, bowel and lung cancers. According to experts, nearly 40,000 cancers had gone undiagnosed in the first year of the pandemic. As of now, screening programmes are among the most effective ways of detecting early-stage cancers. (With inputs from agencies)

A new 'game-changing' blood test will detect 12 types of cancers. Here's all about it

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom&nbsp;Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation.&nbsp;

The former prime minister had promised to “reveal what really happened during my time as [London] mayor, foreign secretary and PM” during the conversation next week.&nbsp;

Beth Rigby shared a post on X, saying "I was looking forward to interviewing Boris Johnson at Cheltenham but regrettably, I can’t go ahead with the event because I am not allowed [to] make an audio recording or transcript of the interview."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/bbc-cancels-former-british-pm-boris-johnsons-interview-over-pre-sent-notes-764173">Also read:&nbsp;BBC cancels former British PM Boris Johnson's interview over pre-sent notes</a>

“As a journalist in conversation with a former PM at a public event, I can only proceed if we do it on the record. I’m sorry to have to pull out," she added.&nbsp;

This comes days after the BBC cancelled Johnson's interview after the presenter Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly sent him her briefing notes.

Kuenssberg said she had sent Johnson the briefing notes “in a message meant for my team”, adding that the error was "embarrassing and disappointing" and meant it was "not right for the interview to go ahead".&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Former UK PM Boris Johnson Claims Netanyahu Bugged His Bathroom

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“It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked. But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday," Kuenssberg added.&nbsp;

The former UK PM was expected to discuss Brexit, his government’s handling of the COVID-19&nbsp;pandemic, and the Partygate scandal.&nbsp;

Boris Johnson served as the UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022 and has a memoir, Unleashed, being published next week.

(With inputs from agencies)

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation.

Sky News political editor Beth Rigby pulled out of an interview with former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson after she was told she could not record the audio or make a transcript of the conversation. The former prime minister had promised to “reveal what really happened during my time as [London] mayor, foreign secretary and PM” during the conversation next week. Beth Rigby shared a post on X, saying "I was looking forward to interviewing Boris Johnson at Cheltenham but regrettably, I can’t go ahead with the event because I am not allowed [to] make an audio recording or transcript of the interview." Also read: BBC cancels former British PM Boris Johnson's interview over pre-sent notes “As a journalist in conversation with a former PM at a public event, I can only proceed if we do it on the record. I’m sorry to have to pull out," she added. This comes days after the BBC cancelled Johnson's interview after the presenter Laura Kuenssberg mistakenly sent him her briefing notes. Kuenssberg said she had sent Johnson the briefing notes “in a message meant for my team”, adding that the error was "embarrassing and disappointing" and meant it was "not right for the interview to go ahead". Watch | Former UK PM Boris Johnson Claims Netanyahu Bugged His Bathroom × “It’s very frustrating, and there’s no point pretending it’s anything other than embarrassing and disappointing, as there are plenty of important questions to be asked. But red faces aside, honesty is the best policy. See you on Sunday," Kuenssberg added. The former UK PM was expected to discuss Brexit, his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Partygate scandal. Boris Johnson served as the UK prime minister from 2019 to 2022 and has a memoir, Unleashed, being published next week. (With inputs from agencies)

British broadcaster backs out of interview with former PM Boris Johnson over recording ban

Defence experts have voiced concerns about Britain's Armed Force's inability to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks. They have highlighted that RAF Typhoon jets lack the necessary weapons to intercept missiles and attacks like the one launched by Tehran on Tuesday (Oct 1). Despite recent upgrades, the UK has been relegated to a supporting role in response to Iranian aggression; they say.&nbsp;

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:102,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1789}">Underfunding to blame?</h2>

Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace, according to the Telegraph, said that the Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would struggle. He also said that the Royal Navy's carrier strike groups do not have enough sailors to operate effectively in the war zone.

According to retired navy commander Tom Sharpe, "Our involvement [in the response to Iran] was underwhelming, and it's a reflection of 40 years of underfunding."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-issues-travel-advisory-regarding-iran-warns-nations-to-avoid-non-essential-travel-763815">India issues travel advisory regarding Iran; warns nationals to avoid 'non-essential' visit</a>

"Given what is going on in the Middle East and Russia, we need to expedite our ability to provide ballistic missile defence from our T45 destroyers."

The situation has underscored concerns about years of underfunding in the UK's military, which experts argue has diminished the country's global defence capabilities.

However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday maintained that the armed forces remain ready and capable of shooting down cruise missiles and drones, but experts warn that on Tuesday they struggled to shoot down more advanced ballistic missiles.

Iran has built a significant stockpile of ballistic missiles, and its recent attacks on Israel have demonstrated the complexity of defending against these advanced weapons. While the US deployed advanced interceptors from its Navy to protect Israel, the UK was limited to monitoring and support roles during the latest Iranian missile barrage.

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:500,&quot;w&quot;:601,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2187}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-planning-to-target-irans-oil-facilities-resort-to-targeted-assassinations-report-763835">Israel planning to target Iran's oil facilities, resort to targeted assassinations: Report</a>

This has led to calls from former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace and other experts for faster upgrades to the UK's missile defence systems and better equipping of its fighter jets, such as the F-35, which remains under-equipped due to delays in the US.&nbsp;

"Britain could have the capability to have a Type 45 permanently guarding our shores equipped with the upgraded Aster 30," said Sir Ben.

"We should with immediate effect seek to accelerate the already planned upgrade of their missile systems in light of what we are seeing in the Middle East," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Defence experts have voiced concerns about Britain's Armed Force's inability to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks. They have highlighted that RAF Typhoon jets lack the necessary weapons to intercept missiles and attacks like the one launched by Tehran on Tuesday (Oct 1).

Defence experts have voiced concerns about Britain's Armed Force's inability to defend Israel from Iranian ballistic missile attacks. They have highlighted that RAF Typhoon jets lack the necessary weapons to intercept missiles and attacks like the one launched by Tehran on Tuesday (Oct 1). Despite recent upgrades, the UK has been relegated to a supporting role in response to Iranian aggression; they say. Underfunding to blame? Former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace, according to the Telegraph, said that the Type-45 anti-missile destroyers would struggle. He also said that the Royal Navy's carrier strike groups do not have enough sailors to operate effectively in the war zone. According to retired navy commander Tom Sharpe, "Our involvement [in the response to Iran] was underwhelming, and it's a reflection of 40 years of underfunding." Also read | India issues travel advisory regarding Iran; warns nationals to avoid 'non-essential' visit "Given what is going on in the Middle East and Russia, we need to expedite our ability to provide ballistic missile defence from our T45 destroyers." The situation has underscored concerns about years of underfunding in the UK's military, which experts argue has diminished the country's global defence capabilities. However, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday maintained that the armed forces remain ready and capable of shooting down cruise missiles and drones, but experts warn that on Tuesday they struggled to shoot down more advanced ballistic missiles. Iran has built a significant stockpile of ballistic missiles, and its recent attacks on Israel have demonstrated the complexity of defending against these advanced weapons. While the US deployed advanced interceptors from its Navy to protect Israel, the UK was limited to monitoring and support roles during the latest Iranian missile barrage. Also read | Israel planning to target Iran's oil facilities, resort to targeted assassinations: Report This has led to calls from former defence secretary Sir Ben Wallace and other experts for faster upgrades to the UK's missile defence systems and better equipping of its fighter jets, such as the F-35, which remains under-equipped due to delays in the US. "Britain could have the capability to have a Type 45 permanently guarding our shores equipped with the upgraded Aster 30," said Sir Ben. "We should with immediate effect seek to accelerate the already planned upgrade of their missile systems in light of what we are seeing in the Middle East," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Defence experts warn UK unable to defend Israel from Iranian missile threats

An alien-like fungus - called 'Devil's Fingers' - has made a rare appearance in the New Forest, United Kingdom.

The fungus smells "like rotting flesh" and has a ghoulish&nbsp;hand-like appearance which appears to be coming straight out of the grave.

It was discovered by a retired teacher Julia Rosser, as reported by The Daily Mail. The 67-year-old said, "This one looked more like a hand than any I have ever seen before. It looked like it was reaching out from beyond the grave. It looked very creepy."

This fungus is generally found in late October but it has made appearance early because of the wet weather.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/deadly-fungal-infections-spread-like-silent-pandemic-can-kill-40mn-people-in-just-25-years-study-760914">Deadly fungal infections spreading like 'silent pandemic', can kill 40mn people in just 25 years: Study</a>

"I found Devil's Fingers in roughly the same area last year so I was on the lookout for them. They burst out of the ground with these red tentacles or fingers," said Rosser.

This strange-looking fungus also has other names like "octopus stinkhorn" or "octopus fungus".

<h2>All about Devil's Fingers</h2>

The fungus is native to New Zealand and Australia and is believed to have been carried to France as part of the military supplies during the First World War.

"The species is from the southern hemisphere and was first discovered in Britain in 1914," explained Wildlife Trusts.

According to experts, the fungus gets hatched from an "egg" which is slimy and gelatinous in nature and its tentacle-like arms start protruding as it grows.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-wants-to-grow-fungus-and-algae-houses-on-moon-for-astronauts-763462">NASA wants to 'grow' fungus and algae houses on Moon for astronauts</a>

It is easy to spot because of its bright red colour, however, it is very rare in the United Kingdom.

"About 5cm high, tentacles can be up to 7cm long. Usually, there are at least 3 or 4 tentacles. Often found amongst leaf litter under trees or in parks and gardens," stated Wildlife Trusts.&nbsp;

"This fungus smells like rotting flesh which attracts insects to arms where the spores are found. The spores are then spread by the visiting insects," they added.

(With inputs from agencies)

An alien-like fungus - called 'Devil's Fingers' - has made a rare appearance in the New Forest, United Kingdom. The fungus smells "like rotting flesh" and has a ghoulish hand-like appearance which appears to be coming straight out of the grave.

An alien-like fungus - called 'Devil's Fingers' - has made a rare appearance in the New Forest, United Kingdom. The fungus smells "like rotting flesh" and has a ghoulish hand-like appearance which appears to be coming straight out of the grave. It was discovered by a retired teacher Julia Rosser, as reported by The Daily Mail. The 67-year-old said, "This one looked more like a hand than any I have ever seen before. It looked like it was reaching out from beyond the grave. It looked very creepy." This fungus is generally found in late October but it has made appearance early because of the wet weather. Also Read: Deadly fungal infections spreading like 'silent pandemic', can kill 40mn people in just 25 years: Study "I found Devil's Fingers in roughly the same area last year so I was on the lookout for them. They burst out of the ground with these red tentacles or fingers," said Rosser. This strange-looking fungus also has other names like "octopus stinkhorn" or "octopus fungus". All about Devil's Fingers The fungus is native to New Zealand and Australia and is believed to have been carried to France as part of the military supplies during the First World War. "The species is from the southern hemisphere and was first discovered in Britain in 1914," explained Wildlife Trusts. According to experts, the fungus gets hatched from an "egg" which is slimy and gelatinous in nature and its tentacle-like arms start protruding as it grows. Also Read: NASA wants to 'grow' fungus and algae houses on Moon for astronauts It is easy to spot because of its bright red colour, however, it is very rare in the United Kingdom. "About 5cm high, tentacles can be up to 7cm long. Usually, there are at least 3 or 4 tentacles. Often found amongst leaf litter under trees or in parks and gardens," stated Wildlife Trusts. "This fungus smells like rotting flesh which attracts insects to arms where the spores are found. The spores are then spread by the visiting insects," they added. (With inputs from agencies)

Alien-like fungus 'Devil's Fingers' with smell of rotten flesh makes rare appearance in UK

On July 5, Rishi Sunak resigned as leader of the Conservative Party after the Tory’s 14-year rule ended with a landslide victory for the Labour Party in the 2024 UK elections. Sunak was unseated from his role as Prime Minister by Labour's Keir Starmer. The process to select Sunak's successor and the next Conservative Party leader began soon after and has recently gained momentum. Following much competition, six former ministers entered the race to take over the Tory leadership. However, after two rounds of voting by party lawmakers, Priti Patel and Mel Stride have been eliminated from the contest.

UK: Who Will Succeed Rishi Sunak As Leader Of The UK's Conservative Party?

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner asserts that she has not violated parliamentary rules regarding her stay in a New York flat owned by a Labour donor. Her comments come amidst scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, as she defends her actions and seeks to clarify the situation.

UK Deputy PM Angela Rayner Defends Stay At Donor's New York Flat: 'All MPs Accept Gifts'

#Gravitas | Russia on Friday revoked accreditation of six British diplomats in Moscow accusing them of spying and carrying out sabotage, all in aid of Ukraine. This announcement came just hours before U.S. President Joe Biden and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer were scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. to decide on the next steps for supporting Ukraine in the ongoing war against Russia.

Russia accuses British diplomats of spying

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