Author: Desk Reporter

London:  The Conservative Party’s downfall, following a decade of dominance, has opened the political arena to significant uncertainty. In the 2010 general election, the Conservatives, led by David Cameron, formed a coalition government with the Liberal Democrats after winning 306 seats, falling short of the 325 needed for a majority. This coalition marginalized the Labour Party, which secured 258 seats, while the Liberal Democrats garnered 57. The alliance led to a series of Conservative victories in subsequent elections, climaxing in the 2019 general election when the Conservative Party, propelled by the Brexit momentum, secured 344 seats. Despite this stronghold, political…

Millions of voters across Britain are set to participate in the UK General Election on Thursday, July 4, 2024. This crucial election will determine the composition of the House of Commons and the next government of the United Kingdom. Major Parties and Leaders: Conservative Party: Leader: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Last Election Results: 365 seats Promises: The party focuses on economic growth through tax cuts, increased defense spending, and stringent immigration policies. Sunak, who became the first Hindu Prime Minister in October 2022, aims to continue these initiatives. Labour Party: Leader: Keir Starmer Last Election Results: 202 seats Promises: Under…

Brussels: In the first quarter of 2024, the European Union (EU) imported €95.5 billion worth of energy products, totaling 183.8 million tonnes. Compared to the same period in 2023, this marks a significant decrease in both value (-26.4%) and net mass (-10.4%), according to Eurostat, the EU’s statistical office. Natural Gas Imports: The value of imported natural gas in its gaseous state plummeted by 56.8% in the first quarter of 2024, while the volume dropped by 11.7%. For liquefied natural gas (LNG), the value fell by 54.1%, and the volume decreased by 11.4%. The sharp decline in value reflects falling…

Prime Minister Sunak, whose Conservative Party has been in power for 14 years, is trailing Labour by around 20 points in opinion polls. He is at risk of losing his Richmond (Yorkshire) seat. During the 75-minute debate, Sunak urged voters not to “surrender” to Labour, emphasizing the need to maintain current policies. Both candidates focused heavily on the cost of living and tax policies. The Sunak government has presided over a record-high tax burden, which has sparked public concern. The independent Institute of Fiscal Studies recently warned that neither party is fully transparent about the necessary trade-offs between taxes and…

After being released on bail from the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was initially expected to travel to his home country, Australia, and appear in court in an American territory today. However, Assange left the UK and arrived in Saipan, an American territory, where he held consultations with legal experts and rested before appearing in court. The proceedings in the Saipan court have now been completed. Assange will now travel to Australia, where he will reunite with his two children and wife before making further public comments, according to his lawyer. Assange pleaded guilty to one…

A new Mpox strain, Clade 1b, has emerged as a new global health threat due to its higher transmission rate and severe symptoms. This strain first appeared in September among sex workers in Kamituga, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Since then, it has reached approximately 1,000 cases in South Kivu province and has recently spread to Goma. Increased Mortality Rates Early estimates indicate a mortality rate of 5% for adults and 10% for children, based on data from hospitalised patients. Jean Claude Udahemuka from the University of Rwanda emphasised the strain’s danger, calling for global preparedness and local support.…

London: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is set to appear in a U.S. court on Wednesday after accepting a plea deal over charges related to espionage, marking the end of his lengthy legal troubles and his time in London’s Belmarsh prison. Assange, a central figure in numerous international legal controversies due to his activities with WikiLeaks, was released from custody after agreeing to plead guilty to a single count of conspiring to obtain and disclose classified U.S. national defense documents. Assange was released from Belmarsh prison in London on Monday, where he had been detained since 2019. The UK government approved…

With polls suggesting a Labour victory, attention is turning to the anticipated policies of the upcoming UK government. Each major party has distinct proposals for research, innovation, and education, reflecting their broader visions for the future of the UK. R&D Plans The Conservative Party plans to increase public R&D spending by 10% annually, targeting £22 billion by 2026-27. They emphasize stability, intending to continue with the 2023 science and technology framework and ongoing collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). This approach aims to ensure consistent growth and support for the UK’s scientific community. Labour, on the other hand, proposes…

London: A 13-year-old UK teenager, Oran Knowlson, has become the first person in the world to receive a brain implant designed to control his severe epilepsy. The groundbreaking procedure was performed at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) in London. The implant, a neurostimulator developed by Amber Therapeutics, is placed under Oran’s skull and sends electrical signals to his brain, significantly reducing his seizures by 80%. This has transformed his quality of life, allowing him to be happier and more communicative. Oran’s mother, Justine, expressed her delight at her son’s progress. “The future looks hopeful, which I wouldn’t have dreamed of…

Manchester: A recent surge in Covid-19 hospitalisations in the UK is attributed to waning immunity and new variants collectively referred to as FLiRT. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported a 24% increase in hospital admissions in the week ending Sunday, with a rate of 3.31 per 100,000 people, up from 2.67 per 100,000 the previous week. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, emphasised that the virus has not disappeared. “The virus hasn’t gone away and is certainly not a seasonal infection,” he told the i newspaper. He linked the rise in infections to new, more infectious variants…