UK PM Starmer faces vote on possible parliamentary probe over Mandelson

April 28, 2026 10:36 AM

UK PM Starmer faces vote on possible parliamentary probe over Mandelson

Britain's parliament will vote on Tuesday on a possible inquiry into Prime Minister Keir Starmer, looking at whether he misled the House of Commons over the appointment of former U.S. ambassador Peter Mandelson. Any such inquiry could have serious implications for Starmer's future. He has so far resisted pressure to quit over his decision to hire Mandelson, but if found to have knowingly misled parliament his position would likely become untenable. House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said h...

Travel stocks tumble as US-Iran conflict sparks worst disruption since pandemic

March 2, 2026 10:04 PM

Travel stocks tumble as US-Iran conflict sparks worst disruption since pandemic

Travel shares tumbled on Monday, shedding $22.6 billion as escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran disrupted flights worldwide, closed key Middle Eastern hubs and sent oil prices surging, with analysts warning of weeks of disruption. Data showed at least 4,000 flights had been cancelled around the world in the past three days. Dubai, the world's busiest international hub, and Doha remained shut for a third day, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded as aviation faced it...

Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on

November 14, 2024 12:12 PM

Many long COVID patients adjust to slim recovery odds as world moves on

There are certain phrases that Wachuka Gichohi finds difficult to hear after enduring four years of living with long COVID, marked by debilitating fatigue, pain, panic attacks and other symptoms so severe she feared she would die overnight. Among them are normally innocuous statements such as, "Feel better soon" or "Wishing you a quick recovery," the Kenyan businesswoman said, shaking her head. Gichohi, 41, knows such phrases are well-intentioned. "I think you have to accept, for me, it’s no...

Scorching heat drives India’s gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May

June 6, 2024 1:48 PM

Scorching heat drives India’s gas-fired power use to multi-year highs in May

Sweltering heat and policy measures are fuelling a surge in the use of gas-fired power in India, with imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) forecast to rise sharply over the next two years, industry officials and experts say. The country's gas-fired power generation doubled in April and May to 8.9 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) compared with the same period last year, data from Grid India showed, eating into the share of coal-fuelled electricity for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. M...