NHS drugs prices set to rise as Starmer to cave on Trump demands

NHS drug prices look set to rise as Sir Keir Starmer is close to bowing to Donald Trump’s demands to pay pharmaceutical companies more money.

It comes as officials briefed the Trump administration on new proposals to adjust how the NHS prices medicines earlier this week, including raising the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) threshold by 25 per cent.

The revelation, first reported by Politico, is the government’s attempt to avoid a wave of new tariffs threatened by President Trump over what he believes to be anti-competitive practices by the UK.

Under the current rules, the NICE threshold measures whether a treatment offers good value for money. This means that if a drug costs the NHS between £20,000 and £30,000 for every extra year of good-quality life it delivers to a patient, it is considered good value.

But, under new proposals being put to the White House, this threshold would be raised, meaning that the UK will pay more for drugs overall.

While the Treasury has resisted any changes because they will not bring in any extra benefits, a source told Politico, “This is the price you have to pay post-Trump for global pharma to continue to play in the UK.”

It comes as the prime minister is trying to make positive headlines on trade during a trip to India after securing a trade deal with the country.

But the price hike is a sour note in what had been a positive relationship with Trump’s White House, where Sir Keir had managed to secure the first trade deal to unpick the president’s sweeping tariff regime launched earlier this year.

There is also a continuing headache over hopes for the UK to slash steel tariffs from 25 per cent to zero, with talks apparently stalling months after Downing Street had hoped it had secured an agreement.

Trump has threatened to impose tariffs as high as 100 per cent on pharmaceutical imports. This is despite the UK securing “preferential treatment” on tariffs, which were conditional on improved pricing for American pharma companies operating in Britain.

A UK government spokesperson said: “The pharmaceutical sector and the innovative medicines it produces are critical to our NHS, our economy and the Plan for Change. Through our Life Sciences Sector Plan, we’ve committed to working with industry to accelerate growth in spending on innovative medicines compared to the previous decade.”

The spokesperson added: “We’ve secured a landmark economic partnership with the US that includes working together on pharmaceutical exports from the UK, whilst improving conditions for pharmaceutical companies here. We’re now in advanced discussions with the US administration to secure the best outcome for the UK, reflecting our strong relationship and the opportunities from close partnership with our pharmaceutical industry.”

This critical difference puts Israel-Hamas peace closer than ever

Two years into one of the bloodiest conflicts of our time, negotiators representing Israel and Hamas sat down for a second day of indirect peace talks in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Both sides are scrutinising a 20-point peace plan proposed by US president Donald Trump, as they take part in talks that senior officials briefed on the discussions told The Independent are “the closest we’ve ever been” to the end of the war.

The deal – originally 21 points long – was first presented to leaders from Arab and Muslim-majority countries in New York last month. It was changed at the 11th hour, which initially caused confusion and concern in some quarters that the process might collapse before it had started.

In the days before the plan was announced at a joint press conference held by Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister attended a lengthy meeting with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Washington DC, where he reportedly had the opportunity to “weigh in” and make changes.

The Independent understands that the biggest alteration made was the removal of a point demanding that Israel agree not to bomb or attack Doha again. It was decided that the peace deal should focus on Gaza, and Trump insisted that Netanyahu participate in a trilateral call with Doha in which he would apologise to the Qatari leadership.

Changes were also made to ensure that the disarmament of Hamas was a key condition, and that the deal directly linked the staged withdrawal of Israeli forces to the demilitarisation of the strip, it is understood.

But despite these unexpected amendments, talks began in the resort city at 6pm Egyptian time on Monday evening, kicking off with four hours of meetings with a break for dinner. The talks continued on Tuesday morning.

It was a tentative start, but described as “positive” by those who were briefed on the goings-on, with “both sides negotiating in good faith”.

Interestingly, the highest level delegates from each side, along with representatives of mediating countries including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, were not present.

Some of those slated to attend, including Witkoff, Kushner and Ron Dermer, Israel’s head of negotiations and minister of strategic affairs, were apparently in Egypt but not yet in the negotiating rooms. That was because, at least on the Israeli side, there is caution, with one official voicing concern about whether Hamas was “serious” or not.

Instead, the technical teams got to grips with the nuts and bolts of the plan.

Trump has been overtly positive about the talks, suggesting that “tremendous progress” has been made and that a deal is imminent. On the ground there has been “optimism”, but checked by the reality that delivering a deal this complicated will take more than just a few days.

Right now, “the specifics in terms of where and when” is being battled out, one official briefed on the talks told The Independent.

“Both Hamas and Israel agree on the fundamentals of the 20-point plan. The current round of talks is focused on tackling the specific details, which has been a lengthy process in the past,” the official warned.

Trump’s plan is being treated like a guidebook of ideas rather than the finished product. And so, like the last ceasefire deal in January, the new deal will include least three phases – but with one critical difference.

January’s agreement only laid out the solid details of phase one, with an understanding that the specifics of the next phases would be negotiated as soon as the first stage was in progress. But that ceasefire never got beyond the first phase, collapsing in March. At the time, Israel and Hamas blamed each other, and Middle East diplomats told The Independent that Israel simply “never showed up” to discuss how to move it forward.

To avoid this happening again, negotiators want to hammer out all the timelines and action plans ahead of time.

“The difference from previous rounds is that the objective is to have something comprehensive that includes pre-agreed phases prior to its implementation, rather than prolonged negotiations for phase two during phase one, like we had in the January deal,” said one official with knowledge of the talks.

“This deal is designed to give reassurances to both sides that it is comprehensive. And once we enter phase one and both sides commit to what’s required from them, we move on to phase two.”

The Independent understands that the talks opened with discussions on what is being referred to as the “trigger” for the deal: an immediate ceasefire, then Hamas militants releasing the remaining 48 hostages, dead and alive, which in turn, according to the latest draft, will result in the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinians serving life terms along with people detained since October 2023. During that period, the remains of more than 700 deceased Palestinians from Gaza, currently being held by Israel, could also be returned.

This will happen in tandem with another key part of phase one: an initial withdrawal of Israeli troops to what the US secretary of state Marco Rubio has referred to publicly as the “yellow line”.

Israeli media has described the “yellow line”, at some points, as being a good 6km inside Gaza, which would mean that Israel’s troops would still occupy cities such as Rafah along the border with Egypt, and in the north – areas such as Beit Lahia.

But officials briefed on the talks said that the map has yet to be finalised, as have the timeline and the practical aspects of that withdrawal – a topic that was on the negotiating table today.

Egyptian officials told the Al-Akhbar newspaper that one of the main concerns among Israeli officials is the question of who would administer Gaza during the initial days of their troops moving out of areas of the strip: Israel has refused to allow Hamas to have any on-the-ground responsibility, even temporarily.

Phase Two would see “the full handover of governance”, so the start of an interim body of Palestinian technocrats tasked with managing the day-to-day running of the territory, overseen by what Trump has called “a board of peace”, headed up by the US president himself and former British prime minister Tony Blair.

Palestinian officials have voiced concerns about the make-up of this transitional body, and who else would sit on the board of peace.

Phase two would also see the initial deployment of the “international stabilisation force”, as outlined in Trump’s plan – a group that would comprise foreign and likely Arab personnel who would train up a vetted Palestinian police force.

The focus of discussions on phase two will be the composition of the “technocratic” government. Officials from the Middle East region made it clear that “there is agreement across the board that the Palestinians should be governed by Palestinians themselves”. They also believe that this should pave the way for a handover to a “reformed” Palestinian Authority (PA), the internationally recognised body that is anchored in the occupied West Bank.

But perhaps the bitterest sticking point is the pathway to a Palestinian state, which Palestinians want to be part of the final phase. It is supported by key Arab and Muslim-majority nations, including mediators Egypt and Qatar. The UK and other European countries have recently recognised Palestine.

But statehood is only referred to vaguely in Trump’s plan – not as an aim or a promise, but as something that “may” be explored if the PA reforms.

Netanyahu, during the press conference to announce the plan, made it abundantly clear that Israel does not support a Palestinian state. He also spoke of Israel retaining “security responsibility” over the territory. That was at odds with Hamas’s own statement, in which the militant group nominally accepted parts of the deal and declared it a pathway to Palestinian self-determination.

As the talks grind on, there is a long way to go, but “there is certainly hope”, the official said.

“Given the discussions that are taking place and the detailed and lengthy proposal,” they added, “I think now there’s a good sense within the building that this is the closest we’ve ever been, and both parties are now negotiating in good faith.”

Moscow says momentum for peace deal after Trump-Putin summit has been exhausted

The momentum to find a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine has been exhausted since the Donald Trump-Vladimir Putin summit in Alaska, Moscow’s deputy foreign minister has said.

Growing relations between Washington and Moscow culminated in the August meeting, the second between the two presidents, which some hoped would see progress towards a peace deal in Ukraine.

“Unfortunately, we have to admit that Anchorage’s powerful momentum in favour of agreements has been largely exhausted by the efforts of opponents and supporters of the war,” Sergei Ryabkov said according to Interfax.

“This is the result of destructive activities, primarily by the Europeans,” he said.

The deputy foreign minister also warned Washington against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, echoing repeated warnings from the past week.

The potential appearance of US Tomahawk missiles in Ukraine would mean a ‘qualitative’ change in the situation, he was quoted as Interfax by saying, calling on Washington to take what he described as a sober and responsible approach.

Trump had said he wants to know what Ukraine plans to do with Tomahawks before agreeing to provide them, because he did not want to escalate the war.

Four dead after building being developed into hotel collapses in Madrid

Four people have died after a building under renovation partially collapsed in Madrid on Tuesday.

Emergency services recovered the bodies from under the rubble of the six-storey building on Calle de las Hileras early on Wednesday morning, local authorities said.

The victims have been identified as three men aged between 30 and 50 from Ecuador, Mali and Guinea-Conakry who were employed at the site as construction workers, as well as a 30-year-old woman, the renovation project’s architect.

Their remains were found early this morning, nearly 15 hours after the collapse of the building’s interior structure that left its facade intact. Three other construction workers were injured after “several floors” collapsed, according to firefighters.

One construction worker named Mikhail was pumping concrete into the building’s lower floors and was outside when the collapse occurred. He said he saw a large cloud of dust and immediately sprinted away. He said it “happened to be our first day” working on the site.

Others said they were lucky to escape, heading out for lunch as the “entire building collapses”. “We saw the sun disappear,” one said, reported by El Mundo.

The exact cause is yet to be determined. The mayor said that the sixth floor collapsed, causing those below it to fall through under it.

Miguel Seguí, chief of the Madrid City Council Fire Department, told Spanish media that a slab had collapsed on the upper floor terrace.

“There is still a lot to do,” he said. “It was a combination of factors.”

A witness told ABC they saw the building collapse like “a tremendous tornado”.

They said they were about to enter a hair salon when “I started to see a whole cloud of dust fall onto the street”. Several windows shattered, they said.

An employee in a nearby bakery told RTVE that “it sounded like a bomb”.

Emergency crews arrived on Tuesday to initially treat three injured people who had escaped on their own.

It was another 14 hours before they recovered the bodies from the site, La Vanguardia reports: “The alarms went off at 1:00 p.m., and the last two bodies were recovered around 3:00 a.m.”

One of the injured workers was being treated at a hospital for a leg fracture, emergency services spokeswoman Beatriz Martín said.

In video posted on X by emergency services, the building’s facade was covered by a huge green tarp typically used by construction crews when renovating older buildings.

The facade of the building was intact, and the rubble hadn’t fallen outside on the street.

Jose-Luis Martinez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid, wrote on X on Tuesday that eleven crews were working in the area, alongside police.

Police were accompanied by psychologists to support the relatives, local media reports.

Authorities initially accompanied residents to their homes, fearing further landslides.

A forensic investigation tent was set up, attended by some 30 workers awaiting news of their colleagues, according to El Mundo.

Early on Wednesday, Martinez-Almeida confirmed firefighters had recovered the bodies of two people considered missing since the collapse.

Late on Tuesday he confirmed the death of one of four people then trapped in the building “and the location of another of the missing individuals among the rubble”. Rescue workers recovered two bodies shortly before midnight.

Madrid’s Judicial Police will lead the investigation into the collapse, emergency services wrote on X.

Ms Martín said it was too early to talk about the cause.

One resident, named only as Cayetana, told El Mundo that “the building had been utterly neglected since I arrived” 10 years ago.

“It was to be expected. Given the condition it was in, sooner or later something bad was bound to happen, and that inevitable day has arrived,” she said.

The building, erected in 1965, had been acquired by the Saudi fund RSR Singular Assets Europe Socimi for €24.5 million in 2022 after falling into disrepair.

It was planned to be developed into a four-star hotel with 122 rooms and six floors over a surface area of ​​almost 6,500 square meters over two years.

Did you see what happened? Contact james.reynolds@independent.co.uk

Mary Portas: ‘Gen Z should know the Nineties weren’t perfect’

From Linda Evangelista being shot for Vogue in the windows of Harvey Nichols to the shop becoming known worldwide courtesy of a cameo role in Absolutely Fabulous, the Nineties were an unforgettable decade for me. And as a new spirit of optimism, experimentation and creativity surged, I was at the heart of it.

I was 28 when I arrived at Harvey Nichols in 1989, leaving my job at Top Shop – the home of high street fashion and accessible price points – to head up display at a luxury department store. Trouble was, while boutiques and the high street were booming, department stores were struggling to find their identity. One newspaper had even declared they were “dead”. But over the next eight years, I was part of a team that transformed Harvey Nichols into a destination. And amid the freedom of the Nineties, we used imagination, risk and innovation to do it.

Harvey Nichols’ huge Knightsbridge windows were filled with everything from a Thomas Heatherwick sculpture to Admiral Lord Nelson wearing Westwood. We championed up-and-coming British fashion talent with the first New Gen fashion show, collaborated with the Royal Court theatre, launched Harvey Nichols in Leeds and sent Naomi Campbell down the catwalk in a T-shirt with “Fash Mag Slag” emblazoned across it. Plus, of course, I agreed to let Edina and Patsy shop with us. By the time I left in 1997, the store was packed with twentysomethings on the hunt for everything from Mac lipsticks to Moschino.

Three decades on, I can look back on that time and cherish all the many positives. It was an optimistic, daring and energising period. In fashion, the old guard gave way to a new breed of designers including Versace, Westwood and Tom Ford at Gucci. Young British talent, including Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan, were on the rise, rave culture was at its peak, Britpop was ruling the charts, and of course New Labour swept to power on a wave of optimism.

But there were compromises too. In retail and fashion, for instance, bullying and humiliation were a frequent part of the accepted – and very male – power structure. And as a woman, you didn’t have anywhere to go with it, or anyone to speak to. So the choice was simple: wear an armour of steel, or bat it all off with your eyelashes. After the births of my two children, I was paid £52.50 a week maternity pay and took just three months off. Between board meetings that went into the night and networking with fashion types who picked at egg white omelettes to get into the latest bodycon dress, I felt almost embarrassed at being a mother. And even though I’d been promoted to the Harvey Nichols board, it didn’t stop a photographer from slapping my arse when I bent down at a fashion shoot.

Within a few years, working mothers would be immortalised in I Don’t Know How She Does It. My method of surviving the juggle was a bit less comedic: ruthless time management, a great nanny and a thick skin. I also almost unconsciously twisted myself into the shape that the alpha male work culture around me demanded: competitive, status-driven and high-performance.

After eight years at Harvey Nichols, I left to start my own business, and almost three decades on, I can understand why Gen Z are so fascinated by the Nineties right now. In a world without smartphones and the internet, for instance, you could make mistakes without fear of it going viral on social media. The financial landscape now is also incredibly tough for young people. Even though I had absolutely no back-up when I started out, for instance – because my parents had died when I was a teenager – I could still afford rent in London, which lots of kids just can’t these days.

And although being a working-class woman surrounded by privately educated men made me feel insecure at times, I also had the chance to move upwards because I didn’t ever feel that someone was making space for me. I believed that if I worked hard, I would create it, and I did. But that kind of optimism is tough today when the job market is so competitive and the cost of living so high.

Crucially, the Nineties was also the decade that sparked the consumerist boom, which has wreaked so much havoc on us socially and environmentally. In the late 1980s, Barbara Kruger had very presciently produced her critique of consumerist culture – the iconic artwork I Shop Therefore I Am – which inspired the title of my new book. But as that whole movement sped up even further during the heady Nineties, none of us stopped to consider where it might all end up, caught up in the never-ending forward momentum. We can see now that rampant consumerism isn’t the answer, and I am certainly far more careful today than I ever was back then about my purchasing decisions. I’ve had many of my most cherished – and worn – clothes for years now, and I’m proud of the work I’ve done with Save the Children on the Mary’s Living & Giving charity shops, which are all about pre-loved.

There are key generational differences, of course. I’m a member of Generation Jones, who cusped baby boomers and Generation X, and while I certainly feel very culturally different to both of them, all of us are worlds away from Gen Z. We put up with incredibly bad behaviour and just stuck things out, and it’s good that young people today are far less forgiving of all that.

But they also often have very different expectations about eating out, taking holidays, going for a coffee in a posh café instead of the Wimpy bar. That’s all part of the consumerist ethos of “I want it now, how I want it” and something has to change for the future.

But I also see a lot of reasons to hope. Gen Z is a really switched-on, compassionate generation. For every young person who loves fast fashion, there’s another who is constantly buying second hand. And I’m hopeful they will start to redefine how we work and live because right now it feels as if things can’t continue as they are. Call it wishful thinking, but I’ve always believed that hope is generative: you have to believe in it to create it.

And while we know that humanity has the ability to do such dreadful things, I also think there are inexhaustible ideas, kindness and generosity that will finally win. Through my work as co-chair of the Better Business Act, and with independent retailers, I see so much energy at the grassroots level. In every community, in every field, there are people rising to the best of their capacities. The Nineties were incredible, creativity was core, and that’s what both business and politics need more of today to rewrite the rules.

In many ways, I’m the same now as I was back then: I still love disruption, have a very low boredom threshold and remain excited about ideas, and working out the future direction of cultural travel. People keep asking me when I’ll retire, but I can’t imagine giving up work. On the other hand, I’m also a very different person: older, wiser, calmer, softer. Or at least that’s what I tell myself.

Isn’t that the key, though? Take inspiration from the past, but never forget to keep evolving.

‘I Shop, Therefore I Am’ by Mary Portas is available now (Canongate £20)

Norwegian nature: Enjoy wild, wonderful adventures on a safari-at-sea

Norway’s rugged coast is chock-full of natural beauty, dotted with steep fjords where the mountains meet the sea and teeming with all kinds of curious wildlife, from orcas, humpbacks, and over 80 species of seabirds to red foxes, reindeer, and otters. Norwegians are famous for their deep love of the outdoors, which even has its own word: friluftsliv. It helps that it is home to more than 150,000 lakes and is known for its dramatic fjord-fringed landscapes and shimmering glaciers. It’s also one of the best places to catch the technicolour magic of the Aurora Borealis.

What’s more, if you explore this breathtaking region on a Hurtigruten cruise, you’ll do so alongside the expert local Expedition Team, who have spent years traversing Norway’s rugged coastline. They are always on hand to provide engaging insights into the nature, wildlife, and culture you’ll encounter on every voyage. They go above and beyond to ensure you experience more than just the tourist hot spots. Each team member has their own area of expertise and hosts regular lectures for those who want to delve deeper into a specific interest. They also encourage you to join them on their hand-picked hikes and activities, which are at an additional cost and subject to availability but offer the chance to explore with those who know the area best.

Drawing on over 130 years of travel experience, Original and Signature Hurtigruten Voyages lead passengers along Norway’s dramatic Arctic coastline, showcasing its remarkable natural beauty in all its glory, with options to stop off in various locations along the way. As you sail between destinations, keep your eyes peeled for the abundance of wildlife that frequents the area. The coastline is a popular haunt for mammals like giant humpbacks, frolicking seals and playful porpoises.

During time spent on land, depending on your route, you might also come face-to-face with reindeer in the north or the elusive lynx, not to mention the flora that decorates the landscape in various seasons. Some routes stop at Mehamn, a traditional fishing town with only 800 inhabitants. From here, you can embark on an excursion to learn about the Sámi, an indigenous people from Europe’s northernmost region, known for reindeer herding, traditional handicrafts, and a deep connection to nature. Get to know the family, hear their stories and joik chanting, and try dried reindeer meat around a fire in a lavvo tent.

There are many different journeys you can take, depending on what you want to get out of your cruise. Trace the historic Coastal Express route on one of their Original Voyages, Hurtigruten’s first and most iconic route, established in 1893 and often hailed as the world’s most beautiful voyage. You’ll cover 2,500 nautical miles and visit 34 ports, starting in Bergen, Norway’s second-largest city, where you can hop on a funicular to the summit of Mount Fløyen and soak up the incredible views of the city, the nearby fjords, and the surrounding mountains.

The North Cape Line Winter route is another popular cruise for nature lovers. This Signature Voyage adventure starts and finishes in Norway’s Capital, Oslo. The Signature Voyages take things up a notch, offering unmatched views of Norway’s best bits with more time to explore each stop. They’re also a hit with foodies, thanks to the all-inclusive option featuring award-winning restaurants and seasonal produce from Norway’s bountiful coastline.

Åndalsnes is also a favourite stop on the route, home to soaring mountains overlooking the surrounding town. It’s the ultimate hotspot for hikers, climbers and skiers thanks to its abundant accessible natural beauty. The Troll Wall is a highlight for adrenaline seekers here; this 1,000-metre vertical cliff in the Romsdalen valley boasts some of the most epic views from atop, including 360-degree vistas of Romsdalshorn, Åndalsnes town centre, and the Rauma River.

This route also takes you to The City of Northern Lights, Alta, where you can stand at the northernmost point in Europe, Cape Point in Honningsvåg – the perfect vantage point for those trying to catch this incredible natural phenomenon. Hurtigruten is so confident you’ll see the lights that they even offer a ‘Northern Lights Promise’: a free cruise if you don’t see them during the season (valid on 11-day plus voyages from 20th September to 31st March).

Many of the routes stop at Lofoten, an archipelago with immense peaks and fishing villages sandwiched between slopes. It’s not hard to see why this chain of islands is referred to as one of Norway’s most beautiful locations. Hiking opportunities abound here, and most trails lead to spectacular vistas, or if you prefer to stay on the water, you can hop in a kayak and enjoy a leisurely paddle.

Lofoten isn’t the only archipelago you’ll see on specific routes — keep an eye out for the Vega archipelago, a collection of around 6,500 islands, skerries, and islets. On Gardsøy Island, you’ll find a UNESCO World Heritage Centre with dedicated huts for local eider ducks to build their nests.

Journeying south along Norway’s west coast, many of the routes also take you past some of the country’s most famous fjords, including Hardangerfjord, measuring a whopping 179 kilometres in length, making it the second longest fjord in the country and fifth longest in the world. Get your cameras ready, as you’ll be treated to panoramic mountain vistas from every direction, with snow-capped peaks peeking over the fjord reflected on mirror-like water.

Hurtigruten cruises stop at Torsken on the southbound leg of the Svalbard Line, one of their premium, all-inclusive Signature Voyages that sails from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago and back. The secluded fishing village of Torsken is perfect for outdoors enthusiasts, tucked away in Torskenfjorden on the rugged west coast of Senja Island. It’s home to just a handful of houses, workshops, and small piers sprinkled with fishing boats and is the ideal base for exploring Norway’s second-largest island, Senja.

Senja’s stunning coastline has been rightly nicknamed the ‘Caribbean of the North’ thanks to its white-sand beaches and towering mountain peaks. It’s best to take an excursion and explore by small boat to spot white-tailed eagles, seals, seabirds like cormorants, and maybe even a golden eagle. Whether exploring Senja or simply soaking up sea views from onboard, a Hurtigruten cruise offers a chance to connect with nature, wildlife, and Norway’s stunning landscapes, with countless routes to choose from.

Book your Norwegian adventure for less, with up to 30% off, plus 10% off excursions on selected Coastal Express and North Cape Line voyages. For offers, routes and excursion info, visit Hurtigruten.

Punjabi star dies aged 35 after road accident

Indian singer and actor Rajvir Jawanda has died at the age of 35 after a motorcycle accident in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh.

Jawanda spent 11 days on life support after the incident on 27 September, when he is reported to have lost control of his motorcycle after encountering stray cattle on the road.

The singer suffered severe head and spinal injuries and was transferred from a local hospital to another in northwestern Punjab’s Mohali city in an “extremely critical” condition, officials said. Despite intensive care, he did not recover.

Jawanda was best known for songs such as Sardaari, Kangani, and Do Ni Sajna, which combined traditional Punjabi folk elements with modern arrangements. He also appeared on screen in Subedar Joginder Singh (2018), where he played Sepoy Bahadur Singh, and later in Jind Jaan (2019), his first leading role.

News of Jawanda’s death on Wednesday prompted an outpouring of grief from Punjabi musicians and film artists. Actor Neeru Bajwa wrote on Instagram that it was “very painful to lose such a happy and kind person,” while comedian Gurpreet Ghuggi said simply: “Death has won, youth has lost. How will we forget you, little brother?”

Dozens killed after paraglider drops bombs on Buddhist festival in Myanmar

At least 24 people have been killed and 47 wounded after a motorised paraglider dropped bombs on a crowd protesting Myanmar’s military government at a candlelight vigil.

Around 100 people had gathered in the township of Chaung U for a national holiday when the attack took place at on Monday, according to the BBC.

The protest took place at around 8pm local time, as the group gathered in a field.

Two bombs were dropped on the crowd using a motorised paraglider, a device that can seat up to three soldiers, the broadcaster said.

Locals told BBC Burmese that the bodies of the victims were difficult to identify in the aftermath of the explosions. The attack lasted around seven minutes, according to a spokesperson for the government-in-exile.

“Children were completely torn apart,” a woman who helped organise the event for the annual festival Thadingyut told AFP.

One 30-year-old protester told Reuters: “Initially, I thought the whole lower part of my body had been severed. I touched it and I realized the legs are still there.”

He added: “This is mass murder. They are committing it openly”.

“The military has used paramotors to bomb this area approximately six times before this latest incident,” Ko Thant, an information officer for the Chaung-U Township People’s Defence Force, told the publication.

The first recorded use of paramotors in the region came in December 2024 and they have since been deployed more widely since, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project.

The United Nations reported that the junta had used the devices to carry out attacks in Myanmar in April, following a deadly earthquake in March that killed at least 3,600 people and injured over 5,000.

The People’s Defence Force, groups of volunteer militias fighting the military government, had received reports of an airborne attack during the gathering. They tried to end the event, but the paragliders arrived earlier than expected.

Protesters had also called for the release of political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who was jailed after being deposed following a democratic election.

The United Nations estimates that up to 40 per cent of the population requires humanitarian assistance in the conflict-ridden region.

“The sickening reports emerging from the ground in central Myanmar following a nighttime attack late on Monday should serve as a gruesome wake-up call that civilians in Myanmar need urgent protection,” read a statement by Amnesty International on Tuesday, calling the move a part of a “disturbing trend” of violence against civilians.

“This would be the latest in a long line of attacks that stretch back almost five years to the start of the 2021 military coup,” it continued.

“As the military attempts to solidify power with a stage-managed election later this year, it is intensifying an already brutal campaign against pockets of resistance.”

Last week, Rohingya Muslims attended the first United Nations high-level meeting dedicated to their plight and pleaded with the international community to prevent the mass killings taking place in Myanmar and help those who are part of the persecuted group to lead normal lives.