Stories from London · United Kingdom

Members of the UK Parliament failed to advance a motion regarding allegations that Prime Minister Keir Starmer deceived lawmakers during the appointment of Peter Mandelson.

A London court has confirmed the use of commercially available DNA databases to establish paternity in a case involving seven fathers. This marks the first time such databases have been utilized in this manner within the family court system.

Nigel Farage revealed in a Telegraph interview that he was the victim of a fire-bombing attack at his home. The incident is being discussed in the context of security concerns for political figures. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stated that a lit device was pushed through his letterbox while he was out last year. Farage reported that a party donor provided £5 million for his private security following the incident. Philp stated that the Jewish community is not being properly protected from hate. He further noted a rise in both anti-Semitic attacks and Islamist extremism in the capital. He called for the government to take urgent, tangible action against anti-Semitism and Islamist extremism. The comments follow a terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue last year. The government previously announced increased funding for both Jewish and Muslim community religious sites in Britain.

The Bank of England has tightened capital rules for funded reinsurance in the United Kingdom.

Kirsten Sturmer avoided an investigation regarding statements made to Parliament about the appointment of Peter Mandelson after winning a vote. Cabinet Minister Steve Reid stated that the decision regarding Sturmer is expected to be reviewed in two weeks.

Heathrow Airport expects passenger numbers to decline for the remainder of the year. The airline or airport authority has not provided specific figures for the projected decrease. This announcement follows previous travel trends at the UK hub.

A new law in the United Kingdom is expected to receive Royal Assent this week. The legislation will raise the legal age for purchasing tobacco by one year every year. The increase applies to individuals born on or after January 1, 2009. Affected age groups will face a lifetime ban on tobacco sales.

Hundreds of visitors gathered at Kew Gardens to witness the rare flowering of the Titan Arum, also known as the corpse flower. The event drew crowds to the botanical site. The event involves spectators waiting to see the bloom.

UK regulator Ofcom has launched an investigation into BT regarding the accuracy of its information requests within the telecoms sector.

The British financial regulator provides a 'sandbox' environment allowing fintech startups to test products and services.