News – World and UK

There is a strong chance a long-lost species could brought back from the dead before 2028, the founder of the world’s first “de-extinction” firm has said. Scientists at Colossal Biosciences, a biotech start-up in Texas, are already well on their way to reviving the woolly mammoth, the dodo and the Tasmanian tiger (also known as thylacine), using gene-editing technology. But Ben Lamm, the company’s chief executive, said it is “highly […]

Sir Keir Starmer has said Britain stands with Israel and supports the “reasonable demand for the security of its people” after an attack on the country by Iran. The Prime Minister said he was “deeply concerned that the region is on the brink” and once again urged British nationals in Lebanon to leave. In the statement from Downing Street on Tuesday evening, Sir Keir said Tehran has “menaced the Middle […]

A “panicked” son waiting for his mother to catch a flight out of Lebanon said he has been “infuriated” by the UK Government’s response to help evacuate non-British family members. Philip, 28, a British citizen who did not wish to share his or his mother’s surnames, said his Lebanese mother Rita, 55, arrived in Ajaltoun, Keserwan, north of Beirut, in August to visit her uncle who has cancer. She has […]

Princess Beatrice is pregnant with her second child, Buckingham Palace has announced. The late Queen’s granddaughter, 36, and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, are preparing to welcome a new addition to their family in early spring. The royal baby will be a little brother or sister for the couple’s three-year-old daughter Sienna, and Mr Mapelli Mozzi’s son and Beatrice’s stepson, eight-year-old Wolfie. Two new pictures from the family were shared […]

The steps of Old Marylebone Town Hall were covered with confetti on Tuesday as 100 couples tied the knot in a mass celebration to mark 100 years of the iconic venue. The town hall, which has been the site of scores of celebrity weddings including Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Ringo Starr, and Liam Gallagher, charged the couples just £100 for participating in the event. From 8am until 10.30pm, couples will […]

Sacked Post Office chairman Henry Staunton has denied using racist or misogynist comments in a meeting – claiming colleagues had said “there was not an ounce of racism in me”. Henry Staunton told the Horizon IT inquiry he was “deeply stung” by the inappropriate comment allegations following a meeting concerning candidates to be chair of the Post Office’s Remuneration Committee. Mr Staunton was dismissed by former business secretary Kemi Badenoch […]

A luxury cruise ship which was stranded in Belfast for four months is to return to the city just hours after it finally set sail. Chief executive of Villa Vie Residences Mike Petterson said the liner still had to complete administrative paperwork before it could finally depart to undertake a three-year round-the-world cruise. Villa Vie Odyssey had been scheduled to leave the city in May but was delayed as it […]

The UK Government has chartered a flight out of Lebanon for Britons wanting to leave as Israel said it had begun a “limited, localised” operation in the southern part of the country. Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the situation in Lebanon as “volatile” and with the “potential to deteriorate quickly” as the flight, due to leave Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday, was confirmed. Earlier, Mr Lammy reiterated calls for Britons in Lebanon to […]

New rules have come into force banning businesses from withholding tips or service charges from their staff. Firms including restaurants, pubs, hairdressers and taxi operators are set to be impacted by the new law requiring 100% of tips to be shared between employees from Tuesday. However, hospitality industry bosses have cautioned that the move could hit under-pressure businesses with an “additional cost”. The law means that tips must be passed […]