Record number of UK drivers pass test first time with zero faults, figures show

Activist groups have requested an arrest warrant for Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar following his unannounced visit to London amid ongoing tensions in Gaza. The UK Foreign Office confirmed that Foreign Secretary David Lammy met Sa’ar, describing the visit as "private" but noting discussions on a range of Middle East issues. The timing of the visit has sparked outrage and led to accusations of Sa’ar's alleged complicity in war crimes, coinciding with Israel's intensified military...

A young mother, Megan Smith, was brutally glassed by her best friend, Ebony Jones, 26, during an argument over a dog sale in a packed bar, leaving Megan with severe facial injuries requiring 41 stitches. Jones, who was intoxicated, attacked Megan with a half-pint glass, resulting in lifelong scars and psychological trauma, leading to the breakdown of her relationship. Jones was sentenced to 30 months in prison and received a restraining order against Megan for...

An Essex councillor is pressing the government for transparency regarding the SS Richard Montgomery, a WWII Liberty Ship that sank in the Thames Estuary in 1944, carrying 1,400 tonnes of explosives. Safety work to remove its corroded masts, which pose a risk of collapsing onto the explosives, has faced repeated delays, raising concerns about potential hidden dangers, including the possibility of mustard gas. Experts warn that a collision with the masts in this busy waterway...

The fictional virus ‘mammothpox’ emerged during a World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic simulation, where researchers fell ill while studying a woolly mammoth specimen from thawing permafrost. The scenario, which warned of a potential new pandemic, involved 15 countries testing their preparedness for a fast-spreading virus with symptoms similar to Mpox and smallpox. While ‘mammothpox’ itself is not real, the simulation highlighted concerns about ancient pathogens being released due to climate change and the melting of...

Summary Tens of thousands of Spotify users globally reported issues with streaming music on the app, with Downdetector documenting over 48,000 outage reports on Wednesday afternoon. In response to these glitches, including problems with downloads and searches, Spotify announced that it is rolling out an update. The situation highlights ongoing challenges faced by the audio streaming platform as it works to address user concerns. Full Article

Judges say Equality Act definition excludes transgender women, after gender-critical campaigners’ challengeThe UK Supreme Court has ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 refer specifically to biological women and biological sex. This unanimous decision by five judges signifies a victory for gender-critical campaigners, as it clarifies that transgender women with gender recognition certificates (GRCs) are not included in the legal definition of a woman under the Act. The ruling highlights...