News 30/08/25

Yemen’s Houthi rebel movement has confirmed that its self-proclaimed Prime Minister, Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser al-Rahawi, was killed in an Israeli air strike earlier this week.

The Iran-backed group said several senior officials also died when the Israel Defense Forces struck Sanaa on Thursday. Israel described the attack only as hitting a “military target.” The Houthis have controlled much of north-west Yemen since 2014, when they ousted the internationally recognised government, sparking a brutal civil war.

Researchers say stethoscopes powered by artificial intelligence could help doctors detect heart conditions within seconds.

The new device can identify heart failure, valve disease, and abnormal rhythms almost instantly. The original stethoscope was invented in 1816, but this modern version could be a “game-changer,” ensuring earlier treatment for patients. Following a study across more than 200 GP surgeries in London, there are plans to roll the device out across the UK.

England have stormed into the quarter-finals of the Women’s Rugby World Cup with a record-breaking win over Samoa.

Jess Breach scored a hat-trick as the Red Roses ran in seven first-half tries in Northampton. Helena Rowland added 27 points, setting a new record for individual scoring in a World Cup match. The final margin eclipsed their previous tournament best of 82–0 against Kazakhstan in 2010.

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed that migrants arriving in the UK on small boats will be detained and sent back, as Channel crossings hit record highs.

The Prime Minister is under growing pressure to deliver results on illegal migration and reduce reliance on asylum hotels, where small protests have continued. In a post on X, Sir Keir said those crossing unlawfully would not be rewarded. Britain and France are testing a new returns agreement, allowing migrants to be sent back across the Channel in exchange for legal asylum transfers.

The Archbishop of York has urged the UK to resist Reform UK’s plan for the mass deportation of migrants, warning it is a kneejerk reaction that offers no long-term solution.

Stephen Cottrell said he has sympathy with those concerned about illegal migration, but criticised Reform’s proposal to deport 600,000 people by striking deals with the Taliban and Iran. He said such a move would not solve the problem. Cottrell is currently acting head of the Church of England while a new Archbishop of Canterbury is chosen.

Police say a group of masked men were among those who tried to storm a hotel housing asylum seekers in west London.

The incident was part of coordinated protests on Saturday, targeting three hotels in West Drayton. Five people were arrested outside the Crowne Plaza, Novotel and Holiday Inn. The Met Police say two anti-asylum groups marched to the Crowne Plaza around midday before tensions escalated.

Celebrity peer Lord Brocket has appeared in court accused of raping a woman.

The 73-year-old, who rose to fame on I’m a Celebrity in 2004, was arrested on Friday and charged with two counts of rape in London earlier this month, as well as one count of sexual assault in East Sussex in May. At Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Brocket confirmed his name, age and address as prosecutors outlined the allegations.

Three brothers from Edinburgh have set a new world record for rowing across the Pacific Ocean unsupported.

Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean completed the 9,000-mile voyage from Peru to Australia in 139 days, five hours and 52 minutes. They were welcomed into Cairns on Saturday by family, friends and supporters after setting off from Lima in April.

Thirty-one-year-old Jamie joked that his first wish on arrival was simply for a pizza.

TV chef Gordon Ramsay has revealed he has undergone treatment to remove skin cancer.

The 58-year-old said healthcare staff had removed a basal cell carcinoma, a form of non-melanoma skin cancer. In a post on Instagram, he praised his medical team for their quick action, saying he was “grateful and appreciative.”

Ramsay urged people to wear sunscreen this weekend, joking that his treatment was “not a facelift” and if it were, he’d want a refund.

A man from Slough has been arrested after a serious crash in Woodley that left a cyclist in hospital.

It happened just before five o’clock yesterday on London Road, when a grey Hyundai i20 collided with the cyclist. Thames Valley Police say the rider remains in a serious condition and they are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials have been blocked from attending September’s annual UN General Assembly in New York.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has revoked the visas of delegates from the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, while others have been denied applications. The move is part of a series of restrictions under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has also suspended a programme for injured children from Gaza to receive treatment in the US.

The State Department said the action was in America’s national security interests, accusing Palestinian leaders of undermining prospects for peace.

Three men have been arrested in Essex after violence broke out at a protest over housing asylum seekers at the Bell Hotel in Epping.

Police confirmed the arrests were on suspicion of violent disorder, assaulting an officer, and drink driving. The unrest followed the government’s successful appeal allowing the hotel to continue being used to accommodate asylum seekers. At least 13 other councils are now considering legal action against similar facilities.

Three teenagers have died after a car crash in the Scottish Highlands.

Emergency services were called to the A830 near Arisaig late on Thursday night following reports of a collision involving a Ford Fiesta. Police Scotland said three males, believed to be in their mid-teens, were pronounced dead at the scene. Formal identification has not yet taken place.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is facing calls for an ethics inquiry into her tax affairs.

The Conservatives say questions must be answered after claims she avoided £40,000 in stamp duty by removing her name from property deeds. Reports also suggest she saved around £2,000 in council tax on her grace and favour London home.