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Sep 26 2024

British man left ‘badly chewed up’ by hippo attack in Zambia | UK News

A British man was left “badly chewed up” after a hippo attacked him on a canoeing trip in Zambia.

Roland Cherry, 63, was on a five-week safari holiday with his wife Shirley in June when the hippo charged at their boat and snatched him – leaving Roland wedged in the mammal’s jaw.

He suffered major injuries to his leg, shoulders and abdomen.

While Shirley had managed to swim away from the hippo when it attacked, Roland suffered a dislocated shoulder when the animal hit the canoe, leaving him unable to swim to safety.

He told Sky News’ The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee: “I was there really as a sitting duck in the water.

“The hippo came up and grabbed me from underneath and took me down to the bottom of the river before letting me go.

“That was when it really struck home. I thought, well, perhaps I’m going to die here tonight.”

Roland, who is from Warwickshire, said it took him “a couple of moments to process what’s going on here”.

“You think, oh my goodness, what’s in the water with me? I better get away from here.”

He believes he was not aware of what was happening, but remembers seeing his extensive injuries on the bank of the river.

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Roland added: “I looked down at my thigh, which was very badly chewed up, and I could see flesh sticking out from my shorts, and I could see the blood on my left side as well.

“The abdomen wound… I wasn’t really aware of at the time because it was all covered up by the life vest. So it was really after that, I became aware of how badly injured I was.”

Roland was told by one of the surgeons who later treated him in South Africa that he had “never met somebody who’s survived a hippo attack before”.

Hippo attacks are more frequent than is widely understood, Roland said.

He added: “Hippos attack mainly locals on the rivers in that part of Africa and they are exceptionally dangerous.”

Roland is now fundraising for the Mtendere Mission Hospital in Zambia which he says “undoubtedly” saved his life.

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Sep 24 2024

Pubs are ‘great part of British life’ and Labour won’t change opening hours, minister says | Politics News

A minister has said pubs are “a great part of British life” as he ruled out changes to their opening hours.

Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden vowed to table an emergency resolution at his party’s conference to halt any alleged change to venue licensing times “if that’s on the agenda”.

It comes after a report in The Telegraph that public health and prevention minister Andrew Gwynne suggested “tightening up on some of the hours of operation”.

Follow live updates from Labour conference

The Department of Health and Social Care said it was “categorically untrue” to suggest it was considering changes to licensing policy.

“We’ve got a day left of the conference and if that’s on the agenda, I’m going to table an emergency resolution myself in order to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Mr McFadden told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I think we’ve been clear about that overnight, the pub’s a great part of the British tradition and we’ve got no plans to change the opening hours in that way.”

He later told LBC: “I don’t think there’s any plan to shut the pubs early. The pub is a great part of British life.

“I don’t have a drink during conference,” he added, “but that is partly so I can look forward to having a nice one when the conference is over, and I hope the pub will be open when I go in”.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mr Gwynne is reported to have said there “are discussions that we have got to have – even if it’s just about tightening up on some of the hours of operation, particularly where there are concerns that people are drinking too much”.

But a spokesman for his department said: “It is categorically untrue that the government is considering changing alcohol licensing hours.”

Emma McClarkin, the British Beer and Pub Association chief executive, welcomed Mr McFadden’s denial of the reports.

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She said: “It is a huge relief that the idea of restricting pub hours has been quashed, as it suggested a fundamental misunderstanding about how people drink.

“As the chancellor said, this budget will be about economic growth, so it’s important to avoid baffling proposals that would not only ineffectively tackle an issue, but diminish the economy and put jobs at risk.”

She added: “The great British pub is at the heart of communities up and down the country who put their faith in Labour for the first time in a generation.

“We urge the party not to turn its back on them now they are in government and to honour those promises for the future survival of this vital industry.”

Ms McClarkin had previously criticised a plan to ban smoking in pub gardens, which she said could have “a devastating impact on pubs who are already struggling with soaring energy prices and the cost of doing business”.

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Sep 8 2024

Mika Stojsavljevic: British teenager becomes first UK tennis player to win US Open junior title in 15 years | UK News

A British teenager has become the first tennis player from the UK to win a US Open junior title in 15 years.

Mika Stojsavljevic, 15, beat her Japanese opponent Wakana Sonobe 6-4 6-4 to lift the championship cup in New York on Saturday.

Stojsavljevic’s victory came 24 hours after Jack Draper’s semi-final defeat to world number one Jannik Skinner in the men’s draw.

The last British person to win the girl’s title at the US Open was Heather Watson in 2009, while Andy Murray won the boy’s title in 2004.

Stojsavljevic followed up her impressive semi-final display, where she ousted Iva Jovic – the 16-year-old American who made it to the second round of the main women’s draw – with another assured performance in the final.

She said afterwards: “I really want to go to the Rockefeller Center and see it from the top. And then also go to Chipotle or something. I love it.

“I’m super, super happy and grateful to my coaches for this week and my family supporting me back home.

“It was quite nerve-wracking, I had to trust my serve and treat it like any game.

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“I like fighting, it’s so fun to compete and play every match. When you win it’s such a great feeling.

“I feel I have handled myself pretty well. I had some tough matches. I lost the first set in the first round but stayed as strong mentally as possible.”

British teenagers Mingge Xu and Charlie Robertson were defeated in the semi-finals of the girls and boys categories respectively.

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Aug 29 2024

<a href='https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11945/13205209/champions-league-draw-live-arsenal-aston-villa-celtic-liverpool-and-man-city-discover-league-phase-opponents' target='_blank'>Champions League draw with new format – as British teams discover opponents | Sky Sports updates</a>

<a href='https://www.skysports.com/football/live-blog/11945/13205209/champions-league-draw-live-arsenal-aston-villa-celtic-liverpool-and-man-city-discover-league-phase-opponents' target='_blank'>Champions League draw with new format – as British teams discover opponents | Sky Sports updates</a>

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Aug 25 2024

British citizen found dead after Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine | World News

A British citizen – who was working for Reuters – has been found dead after a Russian airstrike in eastern Ukraine, the news agency confirmed.

Ryan Evans, who was a safety advisor for Reuters, was found dead under the rubble of Hotel Sapfir in the eastern city of Kramatorsk on Sunday.

In a statement, Reuters said: “We are devastated to learn that Reuters safety advisor Ryan Evans, who was with our reporting team in Ukraine, has been killed.

“Ryan was part of a Reuters crew staying at Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine, when it was hit in a missile strike on Saturday, August 24, 2024.

“Two of our journalists are in hospital; one is being treated for serious injuries. Three other colleagues have been accounted for and are safe.

“We are urgently seeking more information about the attack, including by working with the authorities in Kramatorsk, and we are supporting our colleagues and their families.

“We send our deepest condolences and thoughts to Ryan’s family and loved ones. Ryan has helped so many of our journalists cover events around the world; we will miss him terribly.”

Mr Evans, 38, was a former British soldier and had been working with Reuters since 2022. He advised its journalists on safety around the world including in Ukraine, Israel and at the Paris Olympics.

The head of the Kramatorsk city military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko, said earlier: “Rescuers found the body of a deceased person under the rubble.”

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the hotel was hit by a Russian Iskander missile, a ballistic missile that can strike at distances up to 500 km (310 miles).

“An ordinary city hotel was destroyed by the Russian Iskander,” he said in his evening address on Sunday, adding the strike was “absolutely purposeful, thought out … my condolences to family and friends”.

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Aug 20 2024

Search continues for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and daughter after yacht sinks in Sicily tornado | UK News

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are among six tourists missing after a luxury yacht sank in a tornado off the coast of Italy.

One person has been confirmed dead – believed to be the vessel’s cook – while four of the missing passengers are British and two are American, according to Italian newspaper la Repubblica.

The British-flagged yacht, called Bayesian, had 10 crew and 12 passengers on board and sank at about 5am local time off the coast of Palermo.

Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency said: “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Mr Lynch‘s daughter, Hannah Lynch, remains unaccounted for but his wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued along with 14 others – including a mother who held her one-year-old baby above the waves.

Charlotte Golunski, 35, told la Repubblica she lost her baby Sofia for “two seconds”, adding: “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.

“It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”

The girl’s father James Emsley also survived, Mr Cocina said. According to her LinkedIn profile, Ms Golunski is a partner at Mr Lynch’s firm, called Invoke Capital.

Mr Lynch, described as the British Bill Gates, was cleared earlier this year of conducting a massive fraud over the sale of software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

His co-defendant in that trial, Stephen Chamberlain, was separately confirmed dead after he was hit by a car on Saturday.

Eyewitness: Dozens watch search teams as they work in the dark

It’s nearly midnight in Porticello – a quaint fishing village popular with tourists and Sicilian locals looking for a weekend away.

Here it is not unusual to see people including young children gathered on a small plinth overlooking the harbourside.

But tonight they’re not admiring the calm waters or the full moon above – instead their eyes are trained on the scene two giant floodlights illuminate.

Three fire and rescue trucks and a big white tent can be seen – the hub of the makeshift emergency rescue operation here.

About 100 metres from the tent is where a coastguard vessel with blue flashing lights circles the water with cave divers on board.

It’s combing the area where they know the yacht stood only hours ago. It’s careful work for the divers with only moonlight and the glow of the festoon lights on the harbour front aiding their work on the surface.

Back on the harbour and people in blue uniforms rush in and out of the white tent. Some of the 30 or so onlookers here tell us about last night’s storm.

They say it was relentless and unforgiving and describe the wind pounding at their hotel and apartment windows. One woman described it as “scary” inside her house, let alone on a lonely vessel moored off the coast.

They watch now as recovery efforts ramp up with extra teams coming ashore to aid the meticulous work – it’ll continue long into the night.

As the hours tick by without news, the more likely this turns into a recovery mission.

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Gary Lincenberg, his lawyer, said in a statement: “Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running.

“He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity. We deeply miss him.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.”

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors are being deployed to Palermo for a preliminary assessment, while cave divers have joined the ongoing search.

The hull of the ship is resting at a depth of 50 metres.

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily, and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected.”

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Aug 18 2024

British diplomat resigns over claims UK ‘may be complicit in war crimes’ with Israel arms sales | World News

A British diplomat has resigned over claims continued arm sales to Israel could be making the UK “complicit in war crimes”.

Mark Smith, who worked as second secretary in the British embassy in Ireland, shared his resignation letter online.

In it, he says: “Each day we witness clear and unquestionable examples of war crimes and breaches of international humanitarian law in Gaza perpetuated by the state of Israel.”

He adds that “senior members of the Israeli government and military have expressed open genocidal intent” and “Israeli soldiers take videos deliberately burning, destroying and looting civilian property”.

As a result, he writes: “It is with sadness that I resign after a long career in the diplomatic service, however I can no longer carry out my duties in the knowledge that this Department may be complicit in war crimes.”

Israel denies any breach of international law and describes its operations in Gaza as a “just war” in response to Hamas’s 7 October attack.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has put out an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegations of war crimes.

Mr Netanyahu, who is facing criticism within Israel for his handling of the remaining hostages in Gaza, said he “rejects with disgust” the accusations.

“No pressure and no decision in any international forum will prevent us from striking those who seek to destroy us,” he has said.

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Mr Smith claims he used to preside over the arms export licensing assessment in the Middle East and North African Department, which he says makes him a “subject matter expert”.

“There is no justification for the UK’s continued arms sales to Israel and yet somehow it continues,” he writes.

“I have raised this at every level in the organisation including through an official whistleblowing investigation and received nothing more than ‘thank you we have noted your concern’.

“Ministers claim the UK has one of the most ‘robust and transparent’ arms export licensing regimes in the world, however this is the opposite of the truth.”

Signing off the letter, he says: “I hope that we can look back on history and be proud.”

Since 2008, the UK has licensed arms worth more than £576m to Israel, according to analysis of government export data by the Campaign Against Arms Trade.

In June, the previous government published data on UK licences granted to Israel since 7 October 2023, revealing 42 between then and 31 May this year.

While still in opposition, now Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged the Foreign Office to publish its legal advice around whether Israel is complying with international law in Gaza.

A Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office spokesperson said: “This government is committed to upholding international law.

“We have made clear that we will not export items if they might be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law.

“There is an ongoing review process to assess whether Israel is complying with international humanitarian law, which the foreign secretary initiated on day one in office.”

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Aug 10 2024

Jay Slater: Hundreds gather for funeral of British teenager who died in Tenerife | UK News

About 500 people attended a funeral service held for British teenager Jay Slater, who died while on holiday in Tenerife.

Friends and family of the 19-year-old from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, were pictured following a horse-led hearse as it arrived at the chapel at Accrington Crematorium.

At the wishes of the family, most wore the colour blue as a sign of respect to the teenager including his work colleagues from PH Build Group, where he was an apprentice bricklayer, who wore T-shirts that read “forever 19” on the front.

Meanwhile, a crowd of mourners watched the ceremony outside under umbrellas as a big screen was put up especially for the service.

Mr Slater’s disappearance on 17 June sparked a major 29-day search and widespread publicity until his body was found in the Juan Lopez ravine.

He had been in Tenerife to attend the NRG music festival with two friends, and his last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the Canary Island, which was about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.

The teenager was remembered in a tribute from his family as a “cherished brother” and “loyal friend to many” who loved music and dancing.

The back of an order of service for the funeral also read: “If there was anyone dancing on the way to the other side, it was him.”

‘Always had a smile on his face’

During the ceremony Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, father Warren Slater, and elder brother, Zak, listened as memories of his junior footballing exploits at Huncoat United – where he played from aged six to 17 – and his days at West End Primary School and Rhyddings High School were shared.

Stuart Holt, manager of Huncoat United, described Mr Slater as a “natural footballer” who “always played with a smile on his face and was just happy with the ball at his feet”.

While funeral director Sarah Barton told the congregation that Mr Slater made “solid and loyal” friendships throughout his time at school.

“There are simply too many friends to mention,” she said. “You only need to look inside here and outside to realise the depth of the amount of friends Jay had, whether they be on Snapchat, Insta or whatever.”

Ms Barton added: “We know that Jay touched the lives of so many people, and on behalf of the family I would like to thank all those who have sent heartfelt messages and cards to them to help them get through this incredibly hard and sad time.

“I would also like to thank all those who have helped bring Jay safely back to us, family, friends, the kind offers from people in Tenerife, the police here back home and all of you for coming here today to show your love and care.”

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Instead of flowers at the service, Mr Slater’s family asked if well-wishers could donate to LBT Global, an overseas crisis support charity, which supported them after he went missing on the Spanish Island.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Slater died of traumatic head injuries, consistent with a fall from height.

The Spanish Civil Guard said the teenager could have fallen in the steep and inaccessible area of the ravine where he was discovered.

The search also sparked a host of conspiracy theories online, including a number of Facebook groups dedicated to the case.

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Aug 2 2024

‘Don’t mix up Putin’s regime and Russia’: British citizen released from prison makes Ukraine war ‘propaganda’ plea | UK News

A British citizen, who was freed in the biggest prisoner exchange with Russia since the Cold War, has urged people not to “mix up Vladimir Putin’s regime with Russia”.

Speaking in Bonn, Germany, Vladimir Kara-Murza was critical of how the Russian president rules the country, which he said, does not represent the entire population.

“The difference between dictatorships and democracies is that human life is sacred in democracies,” Mr Kara-Murza said.

Mentioning the war in Ukraine – which the Kremlin refers to as its special military operation – Mr Kara-Murza added: “Kremlin propaganda wants to make it seem that every person in Russia supports the war in Ukraine, this is a lie.

“Please do not allow yourselves to be persuaded that this Kremlin lie has anything to do with real life.”

He added: “I know I will return to Russia, the day will come when Russia is free.”

Mr Kara-Murza spoke alongside Ilya Yashin and Andrei Pivovarov who were also released as part of the prisoner swap deal between the US and Russia.

He said he was “sincerely glad to be free”, adding the days since his release have felt like “some kind of movie”.

The British-Russian national was serving a 25-year sentence for treason.

Fellow released prisoners Mr Pivovarov and Mr Yashin were equally critical of President Putin’s regime.

Mr Pivovarov encouraged leaders of Western countries to “turn to the people, not the power”, adding: “We should do everything to make our country free and democratic.” while Mr Yashin said his aim is to return to Russia and work for a “free” country.

Some two dozen people from countries including Russia, the US, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus were exchanged on Thursday.

The swap also included US Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and US marine Paul Whelan.

Those returned to Russia included a “sleeper cell” couple, prolific cybercriminals and an assassin.

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Jul 24 2024

John Mayall: ‘Father of British blues’ dies aged 90 | Ents & Arts News

John Mayall, the British blues musician whose band was a training ground for Eric Clapton, Mick Fleetwood and many other superstars, has died aged 90.

A statement on Mayall’s Instagram page said he died on Monday at his home in California.

“Health issues that forced John to end his epic touring career have finally led to peace for one of this world’s greatest road warriors,” the post said.

Mayall is credited with helping develop the English take on urban, Chicago-style rhythm and blues that played an important role in the blues revival of the late 1960s.

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At various times, his band the Bluesbreakers included Clapton and Jack Bruce, later of Cream; Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Taylor, who played for five years with the Rolling Stones, Harvey Mandel and Larry Taylor of Canned Heat and Jon Mark and John Almond, who went on to form the Mark-Almond Band.

Although Mayall never approached the fame of some of his illustrious alumni, he was still performing in his late 80s.

“I’ve never had a hit record, I never won a Grammy Award, and Rolling Stone has never done a piece about me,” he said in an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent in 2013.

“I’m still an underground performer.”

Born on 29 November, 1933, in Macclesfield, Mayall once said: “The only reason I was born in Macclesfield was because my father was a drinker, and that’s where his favourite pub was.”

His father also played guitar and banjo, and his records of boogie-woogie piano captivated his teenage son.

Mayall was often called the “father of British blues” but when he moved to London in 1962 he aimed to soak up the blues scene led by Alexis Korner and Cyril Davies.

The Bluesbreakers drew on a fluid community of musicians who drifted in and out of various bands.

His 1968 album Blues from Laurel Canyon signalled a permanent move to the United States and a change in direction.

In 1982, he reformed the Bluesbreakers, recruiting Taylor and McVie, but after two years the personnel changed again.

In 2008, Mayall announced that he was permanently retiring the Bluesbreaker name, and in 2013 he was leading the John Mayall Band.

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