| British News |
| Britain vulnerable to ballistic missiles as holes in defence revealed |
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Nato will urge Sir Keir Starmer to significantly increase spending on air and missile defence as a Sunday Times investigation reveals Britain is increasingly vulnerable to ballistic missile attacks. The request is set to be formally made this year when the military alliance issues members with updated force requirements, making clear the areas they should prioritise to bolster its collective defences. Defence sources claim that a number of Nato countries have recently expressed frustration that the UK is not contributing enough to the defensive shields necessary to protect Europe against long-range missile attacks. The independent panel leading the strategic defence review, commissioned by the government to assess the health and future direction of the UK’s armed forces, is understood to be deeply concerned by the holes in Britain’s missile defences. |
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| World News |
| China ‘overwhelmed’ by mystery new virus outbreak five years on from Covid |
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A mysterious viral outbreak is overwhelming some hospitals in China and prompting people to wear face masks again. Videos on social media appear to show medical units struggling with large numbers of patients. Parents were seen holding sick children amid long queues in paediatric care late at night. Many are drawing similarities with the early dark days of the Covid pandemic five years ago from its start in the city of Wuhan.According to local news reports, a little-known virus called human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has been blamed. It normally causes a mild cold-like illness, including fever, a cough, runny nose and wheezing. In severe cases, HMPV can lead to bronchitis or pneumonia, particularly in children. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and close physical contact, making it highly contagious in crowded settingsThe World Health Organization highlighted the increase in cases in a November bulletin, noting that respiratory infections had been on the rise since October. In response, China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration launched a pilot monitoring system aimed at identifying and managing pneumonia of an unknown origin. This initiative is designed to improve tracking and response to the surge in winter-related respiratory infections. |
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| Israel News |
| Knesset C’ttee passes amendment on canceled flights compensation |
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The Knesset Economics Committee has approved an amendment to the Aviation Services Law, which would ease the terms of compensation for passengers whose flights are canceled. Foreign airlines have been demanding the change because of the frequent need to cancel flights during the war and the high cost of providing passengers with alternative flights on different airlines. The Knesset Economics Committee had been discussing the amendment for the past nine months but has failed to approve it until today. The amendment must now pass a second and third reading in the Knesset before becoming law. under the amendment, airlines would only be required to refund the price of a ticket and not have to pay for a far more expensive ticket on another airline to provide an alternative for the canceled flight. Foreign airlines would also be entitled to assistance from the Israeli government for insurance coverage for flights to Israel, as it already provides for Israeli airlines. Low-cost airline Ryanair is also demanding the reopening of Ben Gurion airport’s Terminal 1, which charges a much lower airport tax than Terminal 3 – the only terminal currently operating. |
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| Israel denies Reuters report stating that Hamas claims it has approved list of 34 hostages requested by Israel for release in possible deal. |
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An unnamed Hamas official tells Reuters that the terror group has approved a list of 34 hostages, as requested by Israel, to be released in a possible ceasefire and hostage release deal. However, the official, who speaks on condition of anonymity, reiterates that any deal is contingent upon the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. He says that there has been no progress from the Israeli side in this regard. Israel is reported to have submitted a list of 34 living hostages it wants released in the first phase of any deal. As of last week, Hamas was reported to have agreed to 22 of the named hostages — women, the elderly and the sick — but to have refused to free others named by Israel, said to be men of potential military age. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted throughout multiple rounds of failed negotiations that Israel will not commit to a complete end to the war and has said that the fight against Hamas will resume at the conclusion of any deal that is reached. Israel denies the report that Hamas approved a list of the 34 hostages it would release in the first stage of a hostage deal. “As of now, Hamas has not given a list of hostages,” says the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement. According to Channel 12, Hamas submitted a list, but did not indicate who was alive and who was not. |
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